Slider-bearing design with micro-machined wavy-cavity: Parametric characterization of thermohydrodynamic-operation-scheme

Abstract

Slider bearings are widely applied in mechanical systems, where the design needs cover increased load capacity, lowered friction and power consumption and creative designs. This work is governed to perform a parametric characterization, by generating a novel structure on the upper slider surface, which can formally be expressed in micro-machined wavy-form, where the individual and combined influences of various structural design parameters and boundary conditions, on the performance records, are also evaluated. Computations put forward that the contribution of the wave amplitude on power loss values is highly dependent on the level of inlet pressure; higher amplitudes are determined to increase power loss in the lowest inlet pressure case of 1.01, whereas the contrary outcome is determined in the higher inlet pressure cases of 3.01 & 5.01. Designing the slider bearing system, based on optimal load capacity, produced the optimum wave number ranges as 10-45, 7-11 and 5-8 for the pad inclinations of 5°, 4° and 3° respectively.