BRIGE: A Research and Education Program for the Multiphase Analysis of Third-Body Contaminants in Cyclical Rolling-Sliding Contact

布里奇奖的研究目标是对两个被固体颗粒污染并参与循环滚动-滑动接触的润滑表面之间的界面行为有一个物理上的了解。这项研究的主要试验台涉及渗入固体污染物的动力传动装置的齿轮齿。这项工作的一个重要方面涉及对该界面内发生的各种物理相互作用的组合建模，包括润滑剂流体流动、颗粒运动、颗粒-表面接触以及由此产生的两个表面都经历的磨粒磨损。这项工作的另一个组成部分涉及一系列试验性磨损测量，这些测量将使用齿轮传动试验台进行。为了验证模型的准确性，将轮系试验的实验结果与模型的预测磨损进行了比较。如果成功，本研究的结果将加强对受污染的滚动-滑动接触的理论理解，并将有助于预测齿轮在不同水平和类型的污染物暴露下的整体寿命。这项研究面临着一个重要的挑战，涉及暴露在极端环境条件下的机械动力系统的寿命性能。这类系统最近出现，成为从发电到空间探索等多种应用的使能技术，必须设计和测试它们抵御渗入污染物的能力。通过实验验证的基于污染物的磨损预测模型的存在将有助于优化齿轮传动系统的耐磨性设计，还将减少所需的现场试验次数，从而降低成本。此外，该项目将通过使用针对大学前少数族裔学生的研讨会模块和研究活动，加强从事工程职业的代表不足的少数群体的参与。

The research objective of this BRIGE award is to gain a physical understanding of the behavior of an interface between two lubricated surfaces that are contaminated with solid particles and involved in cyclical rolling-sliding contact. The primary testbed for this research involves the gear teeth of a power transmission device that has been infiltrated with solid contaminants. A vital aspect of this work involves the combined modeling of the various physical interactions that take place within this interface, including lubricant fluid flow, particle motion, particle-surface contact, and the resultant abrasive wear that is experienced by both surfaces. An additional component of this work involves a series of experimental wear measurements which will be conducted using a geartrain test rig. The results of the experimental geartrain tests will be compared to the predicted wear from the model in order to verify the modeling accuracy.If successful, the results of this research will enhance the academic understanding of contaminated rolling-sliding contact, and will also aid in the prediction of overall gear life as a function of its exposure to varying levels and types of contaminants. This research confronts an important challenge involving the lifetime performance of mechanical power systems which are exposed to extreme environmental conditions. Such systems, which have recently emerged as enabling technologies for numerous applications ranging from power generation to space exploration, must be designed and tested for their ability to withstand infiltrated contaminants. The existence of an experimentally-validated model for contaminant-based wear prediction will aid to optimize geartrain design for wear resistance, and will also decrease the number of required field tests, thus reducing costs. Additionally, this project will serve to enhance the participation of underrepresented minorities who pursue engineering careers through the use of seminar modules and research activities that are geared towards pre-college minority students.