Lubrication Condition Assessment of Planetary Roller Screw under Varying Operating Parameters
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.sidebar##
Abstract
The planetary roller screw mechanism (PRSM) is a critical transmission component in electromechanical actuators. Under prolonged operation in harsh service conditions, PRSMs are prone to lubrication deficiencies, which significantly increase the risk of mechanical failure. Consequently, it is essential to develop evaluation techniques for the lubrication condition of PRSMs to enable efficient health management. This study proposes an assessment method for PRSM lubrication status during operation based on a vibration mechanism model. The model integrates the contact characteristics of the threads and operating parameters to characterize the influence of internal lubrication conditions on the system's vibration response. Based on this model, a dimensionless evaluation metric was developed that depends on the amount of lubricant used. Using a dedicated experimental test rig, vibration signals were collected under varying screw rotational speeds, axial loads, and lubricant quantities to validate the method. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in evaluating the lubrication state under varying operating conditions using a small amount of vibration data.
How to Cite
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##
Planetary roller screw mechanism, Lubrication condition, Vibration analysis
Ferreira, C., & Gonçalves, G. (2022). Remaining useful life prediction and challenges: A literature review on the use of machine learning methods. Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 63, 550–562.
Fu, X., Liu, G., Ma, S., Tong, R., & Li, X. (2020). An efficient method for the dynamic analysis of planetary roller screw mechanism. Mechanism and Machine Theory, 150, 103851.
Hamrock, B. J., & Dowson, D. (1977). Isothermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication of point contacts: Part III—Fully flooded results. ASME Journal of Lubrication Technology, 99(2), 264–275.
Han, C.-F., He, H.-Q., Wei, C.-C., Horng, J.-H., Chiu, Y.-L., Hwang, Y.-C., & Lin, J.-F. (2018). Techniques developed for fault diagnosis of long-range running ball screw drive machine to evaluate lubrication condition. Measurement, 126, 274–288.
Ma, L., Li, Z., Yang, S., & Wang, J. (2025). A review on vibration sensor: Key parameters, fundamental principles, and recent progress on industrial monitoring applications. Vibration, 8(4), 56.
Miao, J., Du, X., Li, C., Shan, X., & Chen, B. (2022). Lubrication and wear analysis of planetary roller screw mechanism with threaded surface roughness in thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication. Tribology Transactions, 65(6), 1069–1087.
Mohd Yusof, N. F., & Ripin, Z. M. (2014). Analysis of surface parameters and vibration of roller bearing. Tribology Transactions, 57(4), 715–729.
Sajjadi, P., Dinmohammadi, F., & Shafiee, M. (2025). Machine learning in prognostics and system health management of cyber-physical systems: A review. IEEE Access.
Velinsky, S. A., Chu, B., & Lasky, T. A. (2008). Kinematics and efficiency analysis of the planetary roller screw mechanism. ASME Journal of Mechanical Design, 131(1), 011016.
Wu, L., Ma, S., Fu, X., Zhang, J., & Liu, G. (2022). A review of planetary roller screw mechanism for development and new trends. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 236(21), 10822–10840.
Xie, Z., Xue, Q., Wu, J., Gu, L., Wang, L., & Song, B. (2019). Mixed-lubrication analysis of planetary roller screw. Tribology International, 140, 105883.
Zhang, L.-C., & Zhou, C.-G. (2022). Experimental study on the coefficient of friction of the ball screw. ASME Journal of Tribology, 144(3), 031601.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
The Prognostic and Health Management Society advocates open-access to scientific data and uses a Creative Commons license for publishing and distributing any papers. A Creative Commons license does not relinquish the author’s copyright; rather it allows them to share some of their rights with any member of the public under certain conditions whilst enjoying full legal protection. By submitting an article to the International Conference of the Prognostics and Health Management Society, the authors agree to be bound by the associated terms and conditions including the following:
As the author, you retain the copyright to your Work. By submitting your Work, you are granting anybody the right to copy, distribute and transmit your Work and to adapt your Work with proper attribution under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States license. You assign rights to the Prognostics and Health Management Society to publish and disseminate your Work through electronic and print media if it is accepted for publication. A license note citing the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License as shown below needs to be placed in the footnote on the first page of the article.
First Author et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.