DESIGN OF POLYMER MULTILAYER TRIBOLOGICAL UNITS SUBJECTED TO VARIABLE RADIAL LOADS IN TERMS OF FORCE AND CONTACT AREA

<jats:p>The paper presents the results of a computational and experimental study of a sliding bearing unit operating under high dynamic and radial loads as part of a compact roller test bench for heavy-duty vehicles weighing up to 20 t. A shaft and roller design based on a multilayer composite-metal structure has been developed, providing a reduction in the friction coefficient, an increase in thermal conductivity, and matching of the coefficients of thermal expansion of mating elements. Finite element analysis methods in CAD/CAE environments were applied to optimize the geometry and internal topology of the unit, taking into account the mechanical, thermal, and dynamic characteristics of the materials. Composite materials with various functional layers were selected to ensure the formation of a stable tribological contact and reduced wear. Experimental studies were carried out using a specialized friction testing machine with the recording of torque, temperature, and wear parameters. It was established that at specific loads up to 1,500 N/cm2, the friction coefficient decreases to 0.0015 while maintaining the geometry of the contact zone and stable operation of the unit. The obtained results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed design solutions and the possibility of their application in highly loaded maintenance-free tribological systems.</jats:p>