Additional aspects of elastohydrodynamic lubrication

Abstract

Elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) for materials of low elastic modulus is considered. Engineering applications in which EHL is important for low-elastic-modulus materials include seals, human joints, tires, and elastomeric-material machine elements. Theoretical solutions of the problem of fully flooded line contacts in the case of low-elastic-materials are discussed. The equation regarding dimensionless minimum film thickness for fully flooded elliptical contacts for low elastic modulus is compared with the corresponding equation for materials of high elastic modulus. The powers of the dimensionless speed parameter U are quite similar in both equations, but the power of the dimensionless load parameter W is much more significant for low-elastic-modulus materials. Attention is given to aspects of dimensionless grouping, the isoviscous rigid regime, the viscous rigid regime, the isoviscous elastic regime, and the viscous elastic regime.