Study on the load-carrying capacity of surface textured slipper bearing of axial piston pump

To introduce the elastohydrodynamic lubrication effect caused by the pressure distribution under a surface-textured slipper, the slipper's load-carrying capacity is studied. An elastohydrodynamic model was established to analyse the load-carrying capacity at different rotational speeds and load pressures. The comprehensive effects of tilting angle, area density, dimple depth to diameter ratio, and operating conditions are investigated. The results indicate that the optimum film thickness with the maximum stiffness coefficient can be obtained by adjusting the rotational speed, but the load-carrying capacity is slightly lower than that of a rigid surface considering the textured-surface deformation. The load-carrying capacity enhancement of a textured-surface slipper bearing is obvious at the optimum tilting angle, but the maximal load-carrying capacity becomes lower at a higher tilting angle. A textured slipper with an area density and a dimple depth to diameter ratio of 24% and 0.3, respectively, can generate a high load-carrying capacity under an elastohydrodynamic lubrication condition. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.