Effect of surface texture positioning in grease lubricated contacts

It is generally established that use of well-designed artificially enhanced surfaces in certain lubricated conjunctions can potentially improve the tribological performance under specific operating conditions. However, there a considerable lack understanding effect texture features, which are not exposed to conditions contact footprint, overall performance. Three discs have been manufactured, one without features and two with but different locations respect footprint. The were tested ball on disc tribometer representative from practical application cases as such contacts experience multitude regimes lubrication during operation. by grease. Texture placed directly beneath shown provide negative increasing measured coefficient friction relative untextured disc. Textures outside, at very close proximity footprint track disc, reduce wear simultaneously.