Friction-reducing surface-texturing in reciprocating automotive components

A model is presented to study the potential use of micro-sur face structure in the form of micro pores to improve tribological properties of reciprocating automotive components. The Reynolds equation and the equation of motion are solved simultaneously for a simplified piston/cylinder system with surface texturing. The solution provides the rime behavior of both the clearance and the friction force between the piston ring and cylinder liner surfaces. It is shown that surface texturing can efficiently be used to maintain hydrodynamic effects even with nominally parallel surfaces. It is also shown that optimum surface texturing may substantially, reduce the friction losses in reciprocating automotive components.