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The authors investigated analytically, and experimentally the friction torque in a modified 51100 thrust ball bearing. The operating tests and modeling were made at very low axial load in lubricated conditions by using only three balls and a standard steel cage. Two analytical friction moments in the ball–cage contacts based on the friction in the hydrodynamic lubricant film, were developed. An analytical methodology to evaluate the film thickness in the ball – cage contacts was developed, as well. The experiments were conducted by using spin–down method for two viscosities and for rotational speeds between 60 and 240 rpm. Both experiments (with three balls without cage, and three balls mounted in the cage) have been made to validate the proposed models.

The authors investigated experimentally the friction torque in a thrust ball bearing operating at very low axial load and lubricated with mineral oils. The experiments were conducted using spin-down methodology and the results were compared with the theoretical values determined by the SKF methodology for friction torque. The values of the friction torque obtained in the experiments are higher than the analytical values obtained with SKF equations, the differences being explained by the important influence of the friction in balls–cage contacts.

Based on a theoretical model and an experimental methodology for defining the friction torque for lubricated conditions in a modified thrust ball bearing having only three balls, the authors experimentally investigated the influence of the lubricant parameter Λ on friction torque for mixed IVR (isoviscous rigid) and EHL (elastohydrodynamic) lubrication conditions. The experiments were conducted using ball diameters of 3 mm, 3.97 mm and 6.35 mm loaded at 0.125 N, 0.400 N and 0.633 N. Two oils of viscosity 0.08 Pa·s and 0.05 Pa·s were used and rotational speed was varied in the range 60–210 rpm to obtain a lubricant parameter Λ varying between 0.3 and 3.2. The experiments confirmed that the measured friction torque can be explained using hydrodynamic rolling force relationships respecting the transition from an IVR to an EHL lubrication regime.

The behavior of the contact surfaces between the gear teeth has a significant influence on the gear service properties. An analytical research concerning this behavior by considering a non Hertzian model was developed. A mathematical model of the surfaces of the teeth flanks for modified involute spur gears with crowning and relieving was presented. The pressure distribution, displacement and contact surfaces were analyzed, on considering the load, material characteristics and geometry of the contact surfaces and using a numerical method.

Based on a theoretical model and an experimental methodology for defining the friction torque in a modified thrust ball bearing having only 3 balls and presented in [2], the authors experimentally investigated the influence of the ball diameter on friction torque when operating in mixed and full film lubrication conditions and maintaining the normal load, the race curvature and oil viscosity constant. The experiments were realized using ball diameters between 7.938 mm and 3 mm corresponding to maximum Hertzian pressure between 0.264 GPa and 1 GPa and a rotational speed between 60 rpm to 240 rpm. The experiments confirmed that the measured friction torque can be explained using hydrodynamic rolling force relationships respecting the transition from IsoViscous Rigid (IVR) to ElastoHydrodynamic Lubrication (EHL) regime presented in [2].