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Research Papers: Friction & Wear

# The Biomimetic Shark Skin Optimization Design Method for Improving Lubrication Effect of Engineering Surface

[+] Author and Article Information
Yan Lu

School of Machinery and Automation,
Wuhan University of Science and Technology,
Wuhan 430070, China

Meng Hua

MBE Department,
City University of Hong Kong,
Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong

Zuomin Liu

Institute of Tribology,
Wuhan University of Technology,
Wuhan 430070, China
e-mail: Liumerry98@hotmail.com

1Corresponding author.

Contributed by the Tribology Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF TRIBOLOGY. Manuscript received September 17, 2013; final manuscript received February 17, 2014; published online March 25, 2014. Assoc. Editor: Dae-Eun Kim.

J. Tribol 136(3), 031703 (Mar 25, 2014) (13 pages) Paper No: TRIB-13-1199; doi: 10.1115/1.4026972 History: Received September 17, 2013; Revised February 17, 2014

## Abstract

Nature has long been an important source of inspiration for mankind to develop artificial ways to mimic the remarkable properties of biological systems. In this work, a new method was explored to fabricate a biomimetic engineering surface comprising both the shark-skin, the shark body denticle, and rib morphology. It can help reduce water resistance and the friction contact area as well as accommodate lubricant. The lubrication theory model was established to predict the effect of geometric parameters of a biomimetic surface on tribological performance. The model has been proved to be feasible to predict tribological performance by the experimental results. The model was then used to investigate the effect of the grid textured surface on frictional performance of different geometries. The investigation was aimed at providing a rule for deriving the design parameters of a biomimetic surface with good lubrication characteristics. Results suggest that: (i) the increase in depression width ratio $Λ$ decreases its corresponding coefficient of friction, and (ii) the small coefficient of friction is achievable when $Λ$ is beyond 0.45. Superposition of depth ratio Γ and angle's couple under the condition of $Λ$ < 0.45 affects the value of friction coefficient. It shows the decrease in angle decreases with the increase in dimension depth $Γ$.

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## Figures

Fig. 1

Overview chart of the biomimetic design of the shark skin effects

Fig. 2

(a) SEM photography of shark's skin and (b) bionic texture surface

Fig. 3

Geometry and arrangement of microscale grid-cell texture for hydrodynamic lubrication test

Fig. 4

A 2Cr13 steel ring-disk specimen fabricated with microscale rhombus grid-cell textures

Fig. 5

Schematic arrangement of machining processing to fabricate grid-cell

Fig. 6

OSP profiles of the originally machined microtexturing surface: (a) a = 100 μm, b = 50 μm, α = 90 deg, d = 50 μm; (b) a = 450 μm, b = 180 μm, α = 45 deg, d = 800 μm; (c) a = 900 μm, b = 180 μm, α = 30 deg, d = 800 μm; and (d) a = 900 μm, b = 180 μm, α = 60 deg, d = 800 μm

Fig. 7

Schematic of pin-on-disk tribotester

Fig. 8

SEM micrographs for the slid textured surface: (a) a = 100 μm, b = 50 μm, α = 90 deg, d = 50 μm; (b) a = 450 μm, b = 180 μm, α = 45 deg, d = 800 μm; (c) a = 900 μm, b = 180 μm, α = 30 deg, d = 800 μm; and (d) a = 900 μm, b = 180 μm, α = 60 deg, d = 800 μm

Fig. 9

Dimensionless fluid pressure P¯ and film thickness H¯ distribution at Λ = 0.35 and Γ = 0.75

Fig. 10

The relative change in the friction coefficient μ as a function of dimensionless depression width ratio Λ for different Γ: (a) for α = 30 deg, (b) for α = 45 deg, (c) for α = 60 deg, and (d) for α = 90 deg

Fig. 11

The relative change in the friction coefficient μ as a function of dimensionless depression width ratio Λ for different α: (a) for Γ = 0.25, (b) for Γ = 0.5, (c) for Γ = 0.75, (d) for Γ = 1, and (e) for Γ = 1.25

Fig. 12

The relative change in the friction coefficient μ as a function of dimensionless depression depth ratio Γ for different Λ: (a) α = 30 deg, (b) α = 45 deg, (c) α = 60 deg, and (d) α = 90 deg

Fig. 13

Comparing the tendency of the theoretical and experimental curves of friction coefficient against sliding speeds (a) a = 450 μm, b = 180 μm, α = 45 deg, d = 800 μm; (b) a = 1350 μm, b = 180 μm, α = 45 deg, d = 800 μm; (c) a = 900 μm, b = 180 μm, α = 30 deg, d = 800 μm; (d) a = 900 μm, b = 180 μm, α = 60 deg, d = 800 μm; and (e) a = 100 μm, b = 50 μm, α = 90 deg, d = 50 μm

Fig. 14

Friction coefficient as a function of sliding speed for samples with different geometric parameters

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