Tribological behaviour of turn-milled surface structures for high loaded lubricated rolling contacts

• Applicants: Professor Dr.-Ing. Dirk Bartel, since 11/2016; Professor Dr.-Ing. Bernhard Karpuschewski
• Subject Area: Engineering Design, Machine Elements, Product Development ; Metal-Cutting and Abrasive Manufacturing Engineering
• Term: from 2014 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 266371735

Contrary to rolling-element bearings with cage in full complement rolling-element bearings the inappropriate kinematic conditions between the rolling elements (200% slippage) cause that no lubricating films between the rolling elements are generated. Consequently high wear occurs at the rolling elements, reducing reliability and lifetime of the bearings. The development of functional surfaces, providing high wear resistance and low friction under adverse lubricating conditions, offers potential for improvement. Modern manufacturing methods like turn-milling are suitable for optimizing the surfaces in contact. The aim of the research project is to create a suitable turn-milled microstructure on the highly loaded rolling element surfaces. For this purpose the process parameters during turn-milling in correlation with friction and wear behaviour determined in a two-roller test rig are systematically investigated. The fundamental insights will provide conclusions for tribological adversely loaded rolling contacts and generate new possibilities for finishing functional surfaces in highly stressed lubricated contacts exposed by slippage, like gearings, ball-, spherical roller- and axial cylinder roller bearings, cam-tappet-pairing and ball-screw-spindles. All of this can improve significantly the economic and ecological efficiency in manufacturing and driving such machine components. The close cooperation of tribology and manufacturing technology is essential for achieving the objectives of this research project.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Professor Dr.-Ing. Ludger Deters, until 10/2016