Finite Element Analysis of Tribological Properties of Bionic Water-Lubricated Bearings with Nepenthes Alata Structures

The structure design of water-lubricated bearings has a significant influence on their friction and wear performances, as well as lubricity. A new type of bionic water-lubricated bearing has been designed in order to improve its tribological properties. There were Nepenthes Alata structures on its bearing bush, which were mainly two types: crescent textures on the surface of slippery zones and ridged textures on that of the peristome. The flow field analysis was carried out by ANSYS Fluent used the simplified lubricating film model of the bearing. By the variation of rotational speeds, loads and surface textures of different shapes and sizes, the optimization of the anti-friction performance and the load-bearing capacity of water film were explored and the mechanism was analyzed. It was found that the crescent texture of CC1006 and the ridged texture of DR0102 had the best comprehensive optimization of anti-friction performance and load-bearing capacity of water film respectively by comparing the maximum pressure and load-bearing capacity of water film and the friction coefficient under different texture shapes and sizes. We can also draw a conclusion that bionic water-lubricated bearings with Nepenthes Alata structures had more excellent load-earing capacity of water film and anti-friction performance at the medium rotational speed and under the medium applied load. Furthermore, this study provided an analytical method and theoretical basis for designing water-lubricated bearings with bionic structures and improving their tribological properties.