On the Surface Dimple Phenomena in Elliptical TEHL Contacts With Arbitrary Entrainment

Abstract

Theoretical analysis and optical interferometry experiments are performed to investigate the dimple phenomena in thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication (TEHL) of elliptical contacts under pure sliding conditions. The lubricant entrainment is along the major and minor axes of the Hertzian contact ellipse or at some intermediate angle. Good agreement is achieved between theoretical and experimental results and the surface dimple phenomena occurring in glass-steel conjunctions are explained by the temperature-viscosity wedge mechanism. The influence of the angle between the minor axis and the entrainment vector on the position and shape of the dimple, the central and minimum film thickness, the temperature distribution and the frictional coefficient is discussed.