Investigation on friction behavior subjected to ultrasonic oscillation for a rolling-element linear guideway

Abstract

This paper presented an investigation on a frictional behavior subjected to ultrasonic oscillation for a rolling-element linear guideway. The most significant problem with sliding and rolling bearings is the existence of the friction force between the sliding or rolling element and bearing surface, either during pre-rolling regime or rolling regime. The investigation during rolling regime is focused on the relation of friction force and the driving velocity. In pre-rolling region, the investigation is focused on the nonlinear spring behavior (NSB). The experiment was executed by moving a single-axis guideway in a sinusoidal motion with the ultrasonic oscillation applied to the rail and the carriage. It is found that during the rolling region, ultrasonic oscillation has reduced the friction force. However, when the maximum velocity of the motion is very small, the friction force become larger. During the pre-rolling regime, ultrasonic oscillation reduced the spring constant of the nonlinear spring behavior during pre-rolling regime as compared to the normal condition, which is without oscillation.