Effect of rolling surface texture on bearing friction pairs lubrication

Inspired by the friction-reducing structure of pangolin scales, biomimetic conical textures were designed on bearing roller-raceway surfaces to improve tribological performance and service life. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based on hydrodynamic lubrication and cavitation theory was used to simulate the effects of cavitation, inflow direction, and texture parameters (depth, area ratio, and angle) on oil film load capacity. Femtosecond laser fabrication and oil-lubricated friction tests were conducted for validation. The results demonstrate that the load-carrying capacity of the oil film is significantly improved under cavitation conditions. An increased textured area fraction reduces the coefficient of friction, and improves the wear resistance of the contact pairs, whereas an increased texture orientation angle leads to deteriorated lubrication performance. This study provides an effective strategy for optimizing the lubrication of rolling bearing contact pairs and extending bearing service life.