This work describes an experimental investigation into the influence of geometric micro-groove texture patterns on the tribological performance of stainless steel.Five geometries were studied:one with untextured and four with micro-groove textured making parallel,triangular,square and hexagonal patterns.The micro-groove textures were produced using an MFT-20laser system as well as a two-step laser surface texturing(LST)process.Tribological performance was measured using a pin-on-disk tribometer.The investigation showed that the two-step LST process could fabricate high-precision micro-grooves.The experimental data indicated that the micro-groove textured surfaces achieved the lower frictional coefficients than the untextured surface and the geometric patterns had significantly affected the tribological properties of samples in both lubricated and unlubricated states.The results were analyzed from the lubricant supplying and fluid dynamic pressure effect under lubricated conditions as well as abrasive capture and remove under dry friction conditions.
A numerical optimization approach based on the finite element(FE) simulation was used to design the optimum irregular gourd-shaped pattern parameters for generating the highest hydrodynamic pressure. Then the optimum parameters of the gourd-shaped surface texture were determined and the textures were processed on the stainless steel surface by the laser technology. The tribological performance of gourd-shaped surface texture was analyzed using the type of UMT2 tester, and compared with that of the regular circle surface texture and none-texture surface by considering the effect of sliding speeds and applied loads on the tribological performance. The results show that the compound factor n, the diameter ratio Dr and the texture depth Hd are more significant parameters and the optimum values are 0.618, 2.0 and 4 μm, respectively. In addition, irregular gourd-shaped surface texture with optimum parameters is the most effective in the friction reduction among the patterns investigated under different speeds and applied loads in this work. Moreover, better coordination and combination effect can be obtained by gourd-shaped surface texture. The main reason responsible for the results is the irregular symmetric nature of the gourd-shaped texture along the direction of lubricants flowing which can generate the higher fluid dynamic pressure.
