The Short-Time Viscosity Behavior of a Lubricant in a Hertzian Pressure Zone

Abstract

The variation of the viscosity of a lubricant as it passes through a concentrated contact with a Hertzian pressure profile is predicted by a simple model for the time dependent volume response of a liquid to a sudden change of applied pressure. For a wide range of operating conditions, the computed values of transient viscosity are asymmetric with respect to the center of the contact zone and are significantly lower than the equilibrium values. Three design graphs are presented which allow easy application of the results.