Film Collapse in EHL and Micro-EHL

Abstract

The pressure, film thickness, and streamline patterns within the lubrication conjunction in elastohydrodynamic and microelastohydrodynamic lubrication are presented for various operating parameters. The circular non-Newtonian fluid model was used and periodic stationary surface irregularities were considered. Results obtained from different operating parameters are compared to illustrate the reason why film collapses occur in EHL and micro-EHL problems. Effects of speed, slide-roll ratio, and surface irregularity were studied in establishing when film collapse is more likely to occur. The occurrence of vortices and the location of the stagnation point within the conjunction are shown for the operating parameters considered.