• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.183-189
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• 2019

The driver seat of an automobile is in direct contact with the driver and provides the driver with a safe and comfortable ride. The seat consists of a frame, a rail, and many recliners. In recent years, strength and operating force measurement testing of the recliner have become vital for designing car seats. However, performance evaluation requires expensive testing equipment, numerous seat products, and considerable time. Therefore, the trend is to reduce experimentation through interpretation. This study examines the lubrication of solid lubricant for automotive seat recliners and confirms the friction and wear performance. In this study, the lubrication behavior of solid lubricants for car seat recliners is investigated to ascertain the friction and wear performance and to provide accurate values for the strength analysis. The friction material consists of a pin and a plate made from steel, which is widely used in recliners. The friction and wear under lubrication conditions are measured by a reciprocating friction wear tester. The friction coefficient is obtained according to the load and speed. Based on the obtained results, it is possible to achieve a reduction in the error of the test value and the analysis by providing the friction coefficient and wear of the lubricant. The results can be applied to the analysis of automobile seat design.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.170-178
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• 2022

Mechanical surface treatment is an excellent approach widely used to modulate and improve the performance and service life of bearings, gears, and frictional joints. The main purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the effect of ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM) and wonder process craft (WPC) on the surface and tribological properties of SUJ2 bearing steel. The surface roughness and hardness of the untreated and treated (UNSM- and WPC-treated) specimens were measured and compared. Their tribological properties were evaluated using a micro-tribometer under grease-lubricated and dry conditions against itself. Surface hardness measurement results revealed that both the UNSM- and WPC-treated specimens had a higher hardness than that of the untreated specimen. The surface roughness of the untreated specimen was reduced after UNSM and WPC treatments. Abrasive wear mode was observed on the surface of the specimens worn under grease-lubricated conditions, while adhesive wear mode was found on the surface of the specimens worn in dry conditions. According to the tribological test results, the friction coefficient and wear rate of the untreated specimens were reduced by the application of both the UNSM and WPC treatments under grease-lubricated and dry conditions.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.199-204
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• 2022

This paper presents a numerical investigation of the influence of water molecule thickness on frictional behavior at the nanoscale using molecular dynamics simulation. Three different models, comprising water thin films of various thicknesses, were built, and indentation and sliding simulations were performed using the models. Various normal loads were applied by indenting the Si tip on the water film for the sliding simulation to evaluate the interplay between the water thin film thickness and the normal load. The results of the simulations showed that the friction force generally increased with respect to the normal load and thickness of the water thin film. The friction coefficient varied with respect to the normal load and the water film thickness. The friction coefficient was the smallest under a moderate normal force and increased with decreasing or increasing normal loads. As the water film became thicker, the contact area between the tip and water film became larger. Under well-lubricated conditions, the friction force was proportional to the contact area regardless of the water film thickness. As the normal force increased above a critical condition, the water molecules beneath the Si tip spread out; thus, the film could not provide lubrication. Consequently, the substrate was permanently deformed by direct contact with the Si tip, while the friction force and friction coefficient significantly increased. The results suggest that a thin water film can effectively reduce friction under relatively low normal load and contact pressure conditions. In addition, the contact area between the contacting surfaces dominates the friction force.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.154-166
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• 2023

This study establishes a numerical analysis model of the finite element overhung rotor supported by a DTRB and describes the stiffness properties of the DTRB. The vibration characteristics and contact pressure of the RBR system are predicted according to the DTRB support characteristics such as the initial axial compression and roller profile. The stiffness of the DTRB significantly varies depending on the initial axial compression and external load owing to the occurrence of rollers under the no-load condition and increase in the Hertz contact force. The increase in the initial axial compression increases the rigidity of the DTRB, thereby reducing the displacement of the RBR system and simultaneously increasing the natural frequency. However, above a certain initial axial compression, the effect becomes insignificant, and an excessive increase in the initial axial compression increases the contact pressure. The roller crowning radius, which gives a curvature in the longitudinal direction of the roller, decreases the displacement of the RBR system and increases the natural frequency as the value increases. However, an increase in the crowning radius increases the edge stress, causing a negative effect in terms of the contact pressure. These results show that the DTRB support characteristics required for reducing the vibration and contact pressure of the RBR system supported by the DTRB can be designed.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.167-172
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• 2023

Titanium alloys are widely recognized among engineering materials owing to their impressive mechanical properties, including high strength-to-weight ratios, fracture toughness, resistance to fatigue, and corrosion resistance. Consequently, applications involving titanium alloys are more susceptible to damage from unforeseen events, such as scratches. Nevertheless, the impact of microscopic damage remains an area that requires further investigation. This study delves into the microscopic wear behavior of α-titanium crystal structures when subjected to linear scratch-induced damage conditions, utilizing molecular dynamics simulations as the primary methodology. The configuration of crystal lattice structures plays a crucial role in influencing material properties such as slip, which pertains to the movement of dislocations within the crystal structure. The molecular dynamics technique surpasses the constraints of observing microscopic phenomena over brief intervals, such as sub-nano- or pico-second intervals. First, we demonstrate the localized transformation of lattice structures at the end of initialization, indentation, and wear processes. In addition, we obtain the exerted force on a rigid sphere during scratching under linear movement. Furthermore, we investigate the effect of the relaxation period between indentation and scratch deformation. Finally, we conduct a comparison study of nanoindentation between crystal and amorphous Ti substrates. Thus, this study reveals the underlying physics of the microscopic transformation of the α-titanium crystal structure under wear-like accidental events.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Conference
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• 1999.06a
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• pp.215-219
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• 1999

One of the innovative physical methods that provide insight into the basic processes which determine friction and wear behavior of coated machine tools is acoustic emission (AE). In this study, an investigation of the relation between AE and friction signal produced during repeated sliding test is presented. The material of test specimens is CrN coated 0.2% plain carbon steel with 1 Um thickness. The obtained results demonstrate that AE signal is very related with friction, and AE signal is more sensitive than friction when CrN coated film come off the substrate.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Conference
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• 2000.06a
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• pp.76-83
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• 2000

Boundary lubrication condition arises in most lubricated systems, especially during motion reversals and start up phase of operation. In this work electric contact resistance variations with respect to sliding conditions under lubrication is investigated The motivation was to improve the understanding of the contact condition in the boundary lubrication regime. It is shown that electrical contact resistance is sensitive to sliding speed and surface condition of the specimens. Also, phenomena such as run-in during the initial phase of sliding and lubricant pile up near the sliding pin could be observed. The results of this work will aid in better understanding of the metal to metal contact condition in lubricated systems.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Conference
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• 2000.06a
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• pp.194-200
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• 2000

The sealing performance of an elastomeric O-ring seal using NBR and FFKM has been analyzed for the contact stress behaviors that develop between the O-ring seal and the surfaces with which it comes into contact. The leakage of an O-ring seal will occur when the pressure differential across the seal just exceeds the initial (or static) peak contact stress. The contact stress behaviors that develop in compressed O-rings, in common case of restrained geometry(grooved), are investigated using the finite element method. The analysis includes material hyperelasticity and axisymmetry. The computed FEM results show that the contact stress behaviors are related to materials of NBR and FFKM and temperature of vaccum chamber.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Conference
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• 2002.10b
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• pp.445-446
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of micro holes, pattern structure and elastic modulus of pads on the polishing behavior such as the removal rate and WIWNU (within wafer non-uniformity) during CMP. The regular holes on the pad act as the superior abrasive particle's reservoir and regular distributor at the bulk pad, respectively. The superior CMP performance was observed at the laser processed bulk pad with holes. Also, th ε groove pattern shape was very important for the effective polishing. Wave grooved pad showed higher removal rates than K-grooved pad. The removal rate was linearly increased as the top pad's elastic modulus increased.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Conference
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• 2002.10b
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• pp.255-256
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• 2002

In this paper, the frictional behavior according to the contact geometry was investigated using a micro-tribotester built inside a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) analysis for friction was conducted as a method to interpret the contact condition. From the experimental results, it could be concluded that the relative dimensions and distribution of contact asperities on the surface could be predicted by the power spectrum and main frequency in the FFT analysis of the friction signal.