Abstract: Micro-textured surfaces have improved the tribological performance of contact surfaces under lubricated conditions; however, not practiced due to manufacturing challenges. In addition to simpler micro-pits or straight-trench type textures, sophisticated bioinspired textures on commercial radial ball bearings have been scarcely studied. In this work, Dendroaspis polylepis (Mamba snake) skin-type textures were fabricated on the inner race of FAG radial ball bearings using a nanosecond fiber laser machine. Though the snake textures were primarily meant to enhance friction, the dimensions of the texture have been carefully chosen to improve the tribological performance under lubricated condition. The textured bearings were assembled and experimented at various rotational speeds and lightly loaded conditions to measure vibrational amplitude, frictional torque, and temperature rise. Compared to untextured (conventional) bearing, the snake-skin type textured bearings resulted in improved tribo-dynamic performance.

Key words: bionic texture, radial ball bearing, frictional torque, vibration, temperature