Microtextured surfaces in higher loaded rolling-sliding EHL line-contacts

Due to scarce resources coupled with increasing mobility requirements, resource-efficient machine and motor elements are vital. Therefore, surfaces in lubricated tribological contacts can be microtextured, enabling improved lubricating conditions and friction behavior. While this has already been shown for lower loaded contacts, the effects for higher loaded, application-oriented EHL contacts are topic of basic research. Therefore, geometrically defined microtextures are adapted to the tribological system of the tappet/camshaft contact in the valve train of combustion engines as a demonstrator. The tribological performance in respect to lubricating conditions, friction and wear behavior is analyzed on single cam/tappet component test-rigs. EHL simulation is used as 'numerical zoom' into a section of the contact area contributing to better understanding of effects and observed phenomena.