Friction and wear model of a heavy loaded sliding pair Part III. Application to a lubricated plane bearing

In the works of Kolmogorov et al. and Kharlamov [V.L. Kolmogorov, V.V. Khar lamov, A.M. Kurilov, Mathematical friction model for heavy-loaded sliding b earings without the use of lubricants, J. Inst. Eng. Aust., Tribology Confe rence, Brisbane, Australia (1990) 196-201; V,V. Kharlamov, Mathematical mod el of transition process from liquid friction mode to mixed mode based on a n example of heavy-loaded sliding contact, J. Inst. Eng. Aust., Tribology C onference, Brisbane, Australia (1990) 192-195; V.L. Kolmogorov, Friction an d wear model for a heavily loaded sliding pair. Part I. Metal damage and fr acture model, Wear 194 (1996) 71-79; V.L. Kolmogorov, V.V. Kharlamov, A.M. Kurilov, S.V. Pavlishko, Friction and wear model for a heavily loaded slidi ng pair. Part II. Application to an unlubricated journal bearing, Wear 197 (1996) 9-16] the mechanism of friction and wear in heavy loaded sliding pai rs was discussed in terms of friction contact interaction mechanics as appl ied to the friction conditions when mechanical interaction prevails. This paper examines the role of lubrication played in mixed friction thus i s developing the research of Kolmogorov et al and Kharlamov. It shows that the lubricant placed between the real areas of contact (RAC) can balance so me external loads. In the paper, the friction zone is modelled by a two-dimensional non-linear porous medium and the equations of the liquid filtration theory an used fo r describing lubricant flow, the equations being modified since the rough s urfaces forming the "porous medium" displace relative to each other. The lubricant flow model is a new one in the theory of sliding bearings. Th e work of the model is illustrated in this paper. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.