Theoretical investigation of transient elastohydrodynamic lubrication with newtonian solid-liquid lubricants

Abstract

This paper reports a theoretical investigation of transient elastohydrodynamic lubrication of a line contact. A time-dependent Reynolds equation and elasticity equations for compressible solid-liquid lubricants were solved using finite volume and multigrid techniques. The lubricants used were mineral oils mixed with very small solid particles, MoS2 and FIFE which can be treated as Newtonian fluids. The two surfaces were initially at rest and in contact. The transient oil film pressure and oil film thickness were calculated numerically. This simulation showed the significant effects of solid particles on the lubrication characteristics. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.