Title: Effect of inter-asperity cavitation on thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication of infinite line contact rough surfaces

Authors: Hasim Khan, Prawal Sinha

Addresses: Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur-208016, India. ' Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur-208016, India

Abstract: A numerical solution of a thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) of infinite line contact rough surfaces is obtained. The effect of density flow factor on the bearing characteristics are studied based on an average flow model of rough surface lubrication with inter-asperity cavitation. The modified average Reynolds equation, elasticity equation and energy equations are solved simultaneously using a modified Houpert and Hamrock fast approach. The inclusion of density flow factor influences the bearing characteristic for thermal rough EHL problem. The minimum film thickness increases by 20% approximately for longitudinally oriented surfaces when the inter-asperity cavitation is considered.

Keywords: infinite line contacts; thermal EHL; elastohydrodynamic lubrication; inter-asperity cavitation; surface roughness; density flow; film thickness.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSURFSE.2011.041403

International Journal of Surface Science and Engineering, 2011 Vol.5 No.2/3, pp.205 - 225

Published online: 14 Oct 2014 *

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