This article presents a thermal resistances-based approach for solving the thermal-elastohydrodynamic lubrication problem in point contact, taking the lubricant rheology into account. The friction coefficient in the contact is estimated, along with the distribution of both film thickness and temperature. A commercial tribometer is used in order to measure the friction coefficient at a ball-on-disc point contact lubricated with a polyalphaolefin base. These data and other experimental results available in the bibliography are compared to those obtained by using the proposed methodology, and thermal effects are analysed. The new approach shows good accuracy for predicting the friction coefficient and requires less computational cost than full thermal-elastohydrodynamic simulations.
BairSHigh pressure rheology for quantitative elastohydrodynamics. In: BlairSMcCabeC (eds). Tribology and interface engineering series, No 54 ed. London: Elsevier, 2007.
2.
Bair S. Deformation behavior of thin lubricant films at elevated pressure. Georgia Institute of Technology. Pentagon Report No. AD-A336053, 1998.
3.
Blok H. Theoretical study of temperature rise at surfaces of actual contact under oiliness lubricating condition. Proceedings of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers General Discussion of Lubrication, Institute of Mechanical Engineers, London, 1937, pp.222–235.
4.
JaegerJC. Moving sources of heat and the temperature at sliding contacts. J Proc Roy Soc New South Wales1943; 76: 203–224.
5.
ChengHSSternlichtB. A numerical solution for the pressure, temperature and film thickness between two infinitely long, lubricated rolling and sliding cylinders, under heavy loads. ASME J Basic Eng1965; 87: 695–707.
6.
ZhuDWenS. A full numerical solution for the thermo-elastohydrodynamic problem in elliptical contacts. Trans ASME J Tribol1984; 106: 246–254.
JohnsonKLTevaarwerkJL. Shear behaviour of elastohydrodynamic oil films. Proc R Soc Lond A1977; 356: 215–236.
9.
VennerCHNapelWE. Multilevel solution of elastohydrodynamically lubricated circular contact problem, Part I: theory and numerical algorithm. Wear1992; 152: 351–367.
10.
LeeRTHsuCH. A fast method for the analysis of thermal-elastohydrodynamic lubrication of rolling/sliding line contacts. ASME J Tribol1994; 116: 107–117.
11.
GuoFYangP. Influence of a ring flat zone in the point contact surface on thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication. Tribol Int1999; 32: 167–175.
Lubrecht AA. The numerical solution of the elastohydrodynamically lubricated line and point contact problem, using multigrid techniques. PhD Thesis, University of Twente, Enschede, 1987.
14.
WilsonWRD. A framework for thermohydrodynamic lubrication analysis. ASME J Tribol1998; 120: 399–405.
15.
OlverAVSpikesHA. Prediction of traction in elastohydrodynamic lubrication. Proc IMechE, Part J: J Engineering Tribology1998; 212: 321–332.
16.
Morales-EspejelGEWemekampAW. An engineering approach on sliding friction in full-film, heavily loaded lubricated contacts. Proc IMechE, Part J: J Engineering Tribology2004; 218: 513–528.
17.
EchávarriJLafontPChacónEet al.Analytical model for predicting friction coefficient in point contacts with thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication. Proc IMechE, Part J: J Engineering Tribology2011; 225: 181–191.
18.
PaourisLRahmaniRTheodossiadesSet al.An analytical approach for prediction of elastohydrodynamic friction with inlet shear heating and starvation. Tribol Lett2016; 64: 1–18.
19.
ShirzadeganMBjörlingMAlmqvistAet al.Low degree of freedom approach for predicting friction in elastohydrodynamically lubricated contacts. Tribol Int2016; 94: 560–570.
20.
CarliMSharifKJCiulliEet al.Thermal point contact EHL analysis of rolling sliding contacts with experimental comparison showing anomalous film shapes. Tribol Int2009; 42: 517–525.
21.
LeeRTHsuCHHKuoWF. Multilvel solution for thermal elastohydrodnamic lubrication of rolling/sliding circular contacts. Tribol Int1995; 28: 541–552.
22.
HabchiWEyheramendyDBairSet al.Thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication of point contacts using a Newtonian/Generalized Newtonian lubricant. Tribol Lett2008; 30: 41–52.
23.
HabchiWVergnePBairSet al.Influence of pressure and temperature dependence of thermal properties of a lubricant on the behaviour of circular TEHD contacts. Tribol Int2010; 43: 1842–1850.
24.
LugtPMMorales-EspejelGE. A review of elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication theory. Tribol Trans2011; 54: 470–496.
25.
MasjediMKhonsariMM. Theoretical and experimental investigation of traction coefficient in line-contact EHL of rough surfaces. Tribol Int2014; 70: 179–189.
26.
ChapkovADBairSCannPet al.Film thickness in point contacts under generalized Newtonian EHL conditions: Numerical and experimental analysis. Tribol Int2007; 40: 1474–1478.
27.
LiuYWangQJBairSet al.A quantitative solution for the full shear-thinning EHL point contact problem including traction. Tribol Lett2007; 28: 171–181.
28.
JangJYKhonsariMMBairS. On the elastohydrodynamic analysis of shear-thinning fluids. Proc R Soc A2007; 463: 3271–3290.
29.
BairSMcCabeCCummingsPT. Calculation of viscous EHL traction for squalane using molecular simulation and rheometry. Tribol Lett2002; 13: 251–254.
30.
SpikesHAAnghelVGlovneaR. Measurement of the rheology of lubricant films within elastohydrodynamic contacts. Tribol Lett2004; 17: 593–605.
31.
VennerCHLubrechtAA. Multilevel methods in lubrication. Tribology series, London: Elsevier, 2000.
32.
Morales-EspejelGEMeeuwenoordRQuiñonezAFet al.Film thickness and traction measurements of refrigerant R1233zd used as lubricant in elastohydrodynamic conditions. Proc IMechE, Part C: J Mechanical Engineering Science2015; 229: 244–253.
33.
CarreauPJ. Rheological equations from molecular network theories. Trans Soc Rheol1972; 16: 99–127.
34.
EchávarriJde la GuerraTanarroECet al.Analytical model for predicting friction in line contacts. Lubr Sci2016; 28: 189–205.
35.
HöglundE. Influence of lubricant properties on elastohydrodynamic lubrication. Wear1999; 232: 176–184.
ReddyhoffTSpikesHAOlverVA. Compression heating and cooling in elastohydrodynamic contacts. Tribol Lett2009; 36: 69–80.
38.
BairSVergnePQuerryM. A unified shear-thinning treatment of both film thickness and traction in EHD. Tribol Lett2005; 18: 145–152.
39.
BairS. Measurements of real non-Newtonian response for liquid lubricants under moderate pressures. Proc IMechE, Part J: J Engineering Tribology2001; 215: 223–333.
40.
HertzHOn the contact of elastic solids. In: HertzHJonesDESchortGA (eds). Miscellanous papers, London: Macmillan, 1896, pp. 146–162.
41.
LafontPEchávarriJSánchez-Peñuela LejarragaJBet al.Models for predicting friction coefficient and parameters with influence in elastohydrodynamic lubrication. Proc IMechE, Part J: J Engineering Tribology2009; 223: 949–958.
