Influence of Strip-Shaped Wet Surface on Lubrication Films in Slider-on-Disc Conformal Contact under Limited Lubricant Supply

With the test rig for lubricating films in slider-on-disc conformal contact the influences on the inlet oil supply and the film thickness of a strip-shaped wet surface were studied under limited lubricant supply. On the disc, two oleophobic areas were made in such a way that a strip-shaped wet region was generated, and the oil film thickness at different speeds was measured under limited lubricant supply. The results showed that driven by the surface force, the lubricating oil could be collected by the strip-shaped wet region, which improved the oil supply in the inlet area and thus the formation of the oil film under limited lubricant supply. The relative oil film thickness varied in an “S” shape with the increase of speed. The effects of viscosity and oil supply amount on the lubricating film thickness were studied with the strip-shaped wet surface.