On the Scuffing Failure of Hydrodynamic Bearings in the Presence of an Abrasive Contaminant

Abstract

The presence of rigid particulate contamination in hydrodynamic bearings is known to lead to considerable damage resulting in failure. This paper presents a model for evaluating the flash temperature between a fixed, rigid particle embedded into the bearing over-layer while in contact with the slider. Scuffing is assumed to occur if the flash temperature exceeds a certain critical value. The model provides a convenient procedure for estimating an appropriate filter size. Examples are provided to illustrate the utility of the model.