Experimental and numerical study of air entrainment between web and spirally grooved roller

This paper presents numerical quasistatic simulation results of the air entrainment phenomenon between a web and a spirally grooved roller. The numerical results show that during one complete rotation of the spirally grooved roller, the traction coefficient between the web and the roller changes with time due to the changing shape of the groove in the contact region, and the average traction coefficient of the circumferentially grooved roller is higher than that of the spirally grooved roller. Using a laser sensor, web deflection is measured and compared with the numerical results at the inlet. Furthermore, a smoke wire experiment shows a clear view of the air entrainment phenomenon at the entrance, between the web and the roller. [DOI: 10.1115/1.3070582] Keywords: air entrainment, spirally grooved roller, traction coefficient, web deflection, numerical simulation