Influence of the biomimetic textures inspired by Monstera deliciosa on the friction and wear of rolling bearings under starved lubrication

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the tribological performance of textured cylindrical roller thrust bearings under starved lubrication, with particular emphasis on the effects of various leaf-inspired textures, depths and their combinations. Design/methodology/approach Inspired by the leaves of Monstera deliciosa, five types of biomimetic textures were designed and fabricated on the shaft washers of 81107 bearings using laser surface texturing, with various depths (4, 8 and 12 µm) and a fixed angle between the main vein and the costal veins (45°). The bearings were then tested on a universal vertical wear test rig, under an axial load of 4600 N and a rotating speed of 250 RPM, to reveal their friction and wear behavior under starved lubrication. Findings The bearings exhibited optimal tribological performance at a texture depth of 8 µm. Semi-elliptical textures outperformed the elliptical textures, as their radial widths slightly exceeded the roller width. This effect was further enhanced when combined with vein-like textures, generating a remarkable synergistic improvement. Compared with the smooth reference group, the bearings with only semi-elliptical textures at 8 µm depth reduced the average coefficient of friction by 73.3% and the wear loss of the shaft washer by 99.2%. Originality/value This work investigated the tribological behavior of rolling bearings incorporating different leaf-inspired biomimetic textures and varying depths. The findings would provide valuable insights for the optimization and design of bearings.