On the Effect of Hydrodynamic Action on the Contact Area of Highly Loaded Line Contacts

Abstract

The elastically deformed contact area together with the oil film thickness between lubricated plane cylinders in relative motion are experimentally measured and analyzed under various loads and speeds. The measured contact profile has shown to be a function of the operating variables and consequently represents a justifying means in deciding the appropriate solutions to the lubrication problem in concentrated contacts. Under heavy loads and very low speeds, the deformation at the contact zone approaches the flat Hertzian contact, while at increased speeds elastohydrodynamic regimes prevail and relatively thick oil film could form with the presence of a local constriction at the trailing oil exit end. By further speeding up the local deformation diminishes and full (rigid) hydrodynamic solution would govern the lubricant oil behavior with minimum local deformations.