Fast Approach for Calculating Film Thicknesses and Pressures in Elastohydrodynamically Lubricated Contacts at High Loads

Abstract

The film thicknesses and pressures in elastohydrodynamically lubricated contacts have been calculated for a line contact by using an improved version of Okamura’s approach. The new approach allows for lubricant compressibility, the use of Roelands viscosity, a general mesh (nonconstant step), and accurate calculations of the elastic deformations. The new approach is described, and the effects on film thickness, pressure, and pressure spike of each of the improvements are discussed. Successful runs have been obtained at high pressure (to 4.8 GPa) with low CPU times.