Abstract
Abstract
This paper presents an experimental/theoretical approach to modelling the viscous behaviour of liquid lubricants under elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) conditions. The main feature of the approach is that the rheological variables at a single point in the EHL contact are used rather than their global averages. The local rheological variables are calculated using first-principle theories in conjunction with experimental traction data. They are then curve fitted into an Eyring-based rheological model, and the model parameters are determined by minimizing the error vector associated with the curve-fitting procedures. The modelling approach is evaluated both theoretically and experimentally. The theoretical evaluation suggests that the method of modelling is meaningful for median to high-loading conditions of a Hertz peak pressure above 0.8 GPa. The experimental evaluation demonstrates that the approach may be used to study the rheological behaviour of synthetic lubricants with various molecular structures.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.