Study on the Influence of Surface Texture on the Lubrication Performance of Tribopairs under High-Temperature Environments

Abstract

Under high-temperature operating conditions, the deterioration of the physicochemical properties of lubricating oil films, the evolution of the surface state of tribopair materials, and the instability of interfacial behavior induced by thermal-mechanical coupling collectively constitute the core mechanisms responsible for the degradation or even failure of lubrication performance. To address this challenge, surface texture technology, which introduces regular microscopic morphologies onto tribopair surfaces, demonstrates the potential to actively regulate the interfacial lubrication state. This study aims to systematically investigate the influence mechanism of surface texture on the lubrication performance of tribopairs under high-temperature environments. This study first elucidates the multi-physics field coupling nature of lubrication failure induced by high temperatures. It then establishes a parametric design theory for texture geometry and a substrate stability criterion that incorporate thermodynamic effects. Finally, it reveals the intrinsic regulatory mechanisms by which surface texture enhances high-temperature lubrication performance through reconstructing the pressure and temperature distributions of the oil film, intensifying interfacial mass and heat transfer, and generating synergistic effects with the boundary lubrication film. This study provides a systematic theoretical basis for the development of high-performance surface texture designs tailored for extreme operating conditions.