Numerical Solution of Mixed Thermal Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication in Point Contacts With Three-Dimensional Surface Roughness

2016 ◽  
Vol 139 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaopeng Wang ◽  
Yuchuan Liu ◽  
Dong Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Film Thickness ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Point Contact ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Thickness Variation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Film Lubrication

Elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) is a common mode of fluid-film lubrication in which many machine elements operate. Its thermal behavior is an important concern especially for components working under extreme conditions such as high speeds, heavy loads, and surfaces with significant roughness. Previous thermal EHL (TEHL) studies focused only on the cases with smooth surfaces under the full-film lubrication condition. The present study intends to develop a more realistic unified TEHL model for point contact problems that is capable of simulating the entire transition of lubrication status from the full-film and mixed lubrication all the way down to boundary lubrication with real machined roughness. The model consists of the generalized Reynolds equation, elasticity equation, film thickness equation, and those for lubricant rheology in combination with the energy equation for the lubricant film and the surface temperature equations. The solution algorithms based on the improved semi-system approach have demonstrated a good ability to achieve stable solutions with fast convergence under severe operating conditions. Lubricant film thickness variation and temperature rises in the lubricant film and on the surfaces during the entire transition have been investigated. It appears that this model can be used to predict mixed TEHL characteristics in a wide range of operating conditions with or without three-dimensional (3D) surface roughness involved. Therefore, it can be employed as a useful tool in engineering analyses.

A Starved Mixed Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication Model for the Prediction of Lubrication Performance, Friction and Flash Temperature With Arbitrary Entrainment Angle

2017 ◽  
Vol 140 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Pu ◽  
Dong Zhu ◽  
Jiaxu Wang
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Film Thickness ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Flash Temperature ◽  
Machined Surface ◽  
Lubrication Performance ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Starved Lubrication

In this study, a modified mixed lubrication model is developed with consideration of machined surface roughness, arbitrary entraining velocity angle, starvation, and cavitation. Model validation is executed by means of comparison between the obtained numerical results and the available starved elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) data found from some previous studies. A comprehensive analysis for the effect of inlet oil supply condition on starvation and cavitation, mixed EHL characteristics, friction and flash temperature in elliptical contacts is conducted in a wide range of operating conditions. In addition, the influence of roughness orientation on film thickness and friction is discussed under different starved lubrication conditions. Obtained results reveal that inlet starvation leads to an obvious reduction of average film thickness and an increase in interasperity cavitation area due to surface roughness, which results in significant increment of asperity contacts, friction, and flash temperature. Besides, the effect of entrainment angle on film thickness will be weakened if the two surfaces operate under starved lubrication condition. Furthermore, the results show that the transverse roughness may yield thicker EHL films and lower friction than the isotropic and longitudinal if starvation is taken into account. Therefore, the starved mixed EHL model can be considered as a useful engineering tool for industrial applications.

Three-Dimensional Temperature Distribution in EHD Lubrication: Part II—Point Contact and Numerical Formulation

1993 ◽  
Vol 115 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyung-Hoon Kim ◽  
Farshid Sadeghi
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Distribution ◽  
Film Thickness ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Control Volume ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Point Contact ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Numerical Formulation ◽  
Energy Equations

A numerical study of Newtonian thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHD) of rolling/sliding point contacts has been conducted. The two-dimensional Reynolds, elasticity and the three-dimensional energy equations were solved simultaneously to obtain the pressure, film thickness and temperature distribution within the lubricant film. The control volume approach was employed to discretize the differential equations and the multi-level multi-grid technique was used to simultaneously solve them. The discretized equations, as well as the nonorthogonal coordinate transformation used for the solution of the energy equation, are described. The pressure, film thickness and the temperature distributions, within the lubricant film at different loads, slip conditions and ellipticity parameters are presented.

scholarly journals Maximizing the Lubricant Film Thickness Between a Rigid Microtextured and a Smooth Deformable Surface in Relative Motion, Using a Soft Elasto-Hydrodynamic Lubrication Model

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Quentin Allen ◽  
Bart Raeymaekers
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Hydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Hydrodynamic Pressure ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Lubricant Film Thickness ◽  
Texture Density ◽  
Film Lubrication

Abstract We design a pattern of microtexture features to increase hydrodynamic pressure and lubricant film thickness in a hard-on-soft bearing. We use a soft elastohydrodynamic lubrication model to evaluate the effect of microtexture design parameters and bearing operating conditions on the resulting lubricant film thickness and find that the maximum lubricant film thickness occurs with a texture density between 10% and 40% and texture aspect ratio between 1% and 14%, depending on the bearing load and operating conditions. We show that these results are similar to those of hydrodynamic textured bearing problems because the lubricant film thickness is almost independent of the stiffness of the bearing surfaces in full-film lubrication.

Effect of Stiff Coatings on EHL Film Thickness in Point Contacts

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuchuan Liu ◽  
Q. Jane Wang ◽  
Dong Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Coating Thickness ◽  
Performance Enhancement ◽  
Point Contact ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Thickness Variation ◽  
Grand Challenge ◽  
Maximum Increase ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Minimum Film Thickness

Coatings are widely used for interface performance enhancement and component life improvement, as well as for corrosion prevention and surface decoration. More and more mechanical components, especially those working under severe conditions, are coated with stiff (hard) thin coatings. However, the effects of coatings on lubrication characteristics, such as film thickness and friction, have not been well understood, and designing coating for optimal tribological performance is a grand challenge. In this paper, the influences of coating material properties and coating thickness on lubricant film thickness are investigated based on a point-contact isothermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) model developed recently by the authors. The results present the trend of minimum film thickness variation as a function of coating thickness and elastic modulus under a wide range of working conditions. Curve fitting of numerical results indicates that the maximum increase in minimum film thickness, Imax, and the corresponding optimal dimensionless coating thickness, H2max, can be expressed in the following forms: Imax=0.769M0.0238R20.0297L0.1376exp(−0.0243ln2L) and H2max=0.049M0.4557R2−0.1722L0.7611exp(−0.0504ln2M−0.0921ln2L). These formulas can be used to estimate the effect of coatings on film thickness for EHL applications.

Effect of Stiff Coatings on EHL Film Thickness in Point Contacts

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuchuan Liu ◽  
Q. Jane Wang ◽  
Dong Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Coating Thickness ◽  
Point Contact ◽  
Thickness Variation ◽  
Point Contacts ◽  
Lubricant Film Thickness ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Minimum Film Thickness ◽  
Coating Material Properties

This study investigates the influences of coating material properties and coating thickness on lubricant film thickness based on a point-contact isothermal EHL model developed recently by the authors. The results present the trend of minimum film thickness variation as a function of coating thickness and elastic modulus under a wide range of working conditions. Numerical results indicates that the increase in minimum film thickness, Imax, and the corresponding optimal dimensionless coating thickness, H2, can be expressed in the following formulas: Imax=0.766M0.0248R20.0296L0.1379exp(−0.0245ln2L)H2=0.049M0.4557R2−0.1722L0.7611exp(−0.0504ln2M−0.0921ln2L) These formulas can be used to estimate the effect of a coating on EHL film thickness.

A Three-Dimensional Model of Line-Contact Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication for Heterogeneous Materials with Inclusions

2016 ◽  
Vol 08 (02) ◽  
pp. 1650014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kun Zhou ◽  
Qingbing Dong
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Half Space ◽  
Surface Deformation ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Line Contact ◽  
Lubricant Film Thickness ◽  
Equivalent Inclusion Method ◽  
Surface Contact

This paper develops a three-dimensional (3D) model for a heterogeneous half-space with inclusions distributed periodically beneath its surface subject to elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) line-contact applied by a cylindrical loading body. The model takes into account the interactions between the loading body, the fluid lubricant and the heterogeneous half-space. In the absence of subsurface inclusions, the surface contact pressure distribution, the half-space surface deformation and the lubricant film thickness profile are obtained through solving a unified Reynolds equation system. The inclusions are homogenized according to Eshelby’s equivalent inclusion method (EIM) with unknown eigenstrains to be determined. The disturbed half-space surface deformations induced by the subsurface inclusions or eigenstrains are iteratively introduced into the lubricant film thickness until the surface deformation finally converges. Both time-independent smooth surface contact and time-dependent rough surface contact are considered for the lubricated contact problem.

Mixed Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication With Three-Dimensional Machined Roughness in Spiral Bevel and Hypoid Gears

2015 ◽  
Vol 137 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Pu ◽  
Jiaxu Wang ◽  
Rongsong Yang ◽  
Dong Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Strength Prediction ◽  
Flash Temperature ◽  
Hypoid Gears ◽  
Lubrication Performance ◽  
Lubrication Condition ◽  
Spiral Bevel ◽  
Film Lubrication

Spiral bevel and hypoid gears are key components widely used for transmitting significant power in various types of vehicles and engineering machineries. In reality, these gear surfaces are quite rough with three-dimensional (3D) topography that may significantly influence the lubrication formation and breakdown as well as components failures. Previous spiral bevel and hypoid gears lubrication studies, however, were limited mostly to cases under the full-film lubrication condition with smooth surfaces. In the present study, a comprehensive analysis for gearing geometry, kinematics, mixed lubrication performance, and friction and interfacial flash temperature in spiral bevel and hypoid gears is developed based on a recently developed mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) model that is capable of handling practical cases with 3D machined roughness under severe operating conditions and considering the effect of arbitrary entrainment angle. Obtained results from sample cases show that the simulation model developed can be used as an engineering tool for spiral bevel and hypoid gears design optimization and strength prediction.

Lubrication of 2D Soft Elasto Hydrodynamic Contacts: Extension of the Amplitude Reduction Theory

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Mora ◽  
P. Sainsot ◽  
A. A. Lubrecht ◽  
Y. le Chenadec
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Film Thickness ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Quantitative Prediction ◽  
Reduction Theory ◽  
Lubricant Film Thickness

This paper is an extension of the Amplitude Reduction Theory to soft ElastoHydrodynamic contacts. The ART permits a quantitative prediction of the influence of surface roughness on the lubricant film thickness modification as a function of the operating conditions.

The Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication of Elliptical Point Contacts Operating in the Isoviscous Region

1995 ◽  
Vol 209 (4) ◽  
pp. 225-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
C J Hooke
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Radius Ratio ◽  
Point Contacts ◽  
Reasonable Estimate ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Minimum Film Thickness

The elastohydrodynamic lubrication of point contacts is examined and results for the minimum film thickness are presented for a wide range of radius ratios and operating conditions. The results are compared with the predictions of the appropriate regime formulae. Although these formulae give a reasonable estimate of the contact's behaviour, the actual clearances are often substantially different, particularly close to the regime boundaries. Interpolation equations for seven values of radius ratio are given and these should be sufficient to allow the minimum clearance to be estimated for most isoviscous point contacts.

Progressive Mesh Densification Method for Numerical Solution of Mixed Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication

2015 ◽  
Vol 138 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Pu ◽  
Jiaxu Wang ◽  
Dong Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Numerical Solution ◽  
Numerical Solutions ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Solution Process ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Machined Surface ◽  
Progressive Mesh ◽  
Wide Range

Numerical solution of mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) is of great importance for the study of lubrication formation and breakdown, as well as surface failures of mechanical components. However, converged and accurate numerical solutions become more difficult, and solution process with a fixed single discretization mesh for the solution domain appears to be quite slow, especially when the lubricant films and surface contacts coexist with real-machined roughness involved. Also, the effect of computational mesh density is found to be more significant if the average film thickness is small. In the present study, a set of sample cases with and without machined surface roughness are analyzed through the progressive mesh densification (PMD) method, and the obtained results are compared with those from the direct iteration method with a single fixed mesh. Besides, more numerical analyses with and without surface roughness in a wide range of operating conditions are conducted to investigate the influence of different compound modes in order to optimize the PMD procedure. In addition, different initial conditions are used to study the effect of initial value on the behaviors of this transient solution. It is observed that, no matter with or without surface roughness considered, the PMD method is stable for transient mixed EHL problems and capable of significantly accelerating the EHL solution process while ensuring numerical accuracy.

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