Effects of texture parameters on the tribological properties of starved lubrication and molecular dynamics of mechanism investigation

Abstract In order to study the friction behavior and wear mechanism of the texture friction pairs under starved lubrication, the effects of the texture depth, size, spacing and shapes on the friction properties of the steel plates were studied by experiments and molecular dynamics simulation. The texture shape, diameter wear scar of the steel ball and wear marks were measured by microcomputer universal tool microscope. The results show that the texture parameters have an important effect on the tribological properties. The optimal texture parameters of the three shapes are depth 18–23 μm, size 150 μm and spacing 400 μm on starved lubrication state. The square texture has the best tribological comprehensive properties. The molecular dynamics simulation results are in agreement with the experimental results. The anti-friction mechanism of the surface texture is the combination of multiple factors, including the hydrodynamic pressure effect, the provision of ‘secondary lubrication’, the collection and storage of wear debris.