Numerical study of tribological properties of the tripod universal joint based on surface texture and nanolubricant

To improve the tribological properties between the slider and the three-column groove shell in the tripod universal joint, the influence of elliptical surface texture and nanolubricant on the tribological properties of the joint was discussed in this paper. Based on the establishment of the equivalent lubrication model of the textured joint, the numerical model was solved by using the finite difference method and relaxation iterative method with the rheological properties of nanolubricant being considered. Finally, the influence of texture parameters and textured arrangement on the tribological properties of the contact area was analyzed. The research results showed that the tribological properties of the textured joint under the action of nanolubricant were better than that under the action of basic lubricating oil PAO4. The more parallel the elliptic texture axis was to the velocity direction, as well as the minor semi-axis, the better the tribological performance of the joint under the action of nanolubricant and base oil; when the texture depth was 2 µm, the tribological properties were the best with larger average dimensionless oil film pressure and smaller friction coefficient. Among the four textured arrangements, Model 2 with 0° texture inclination angles had the most outstanding tribological performance.