Numerical investigation of elastohydrodynamic contacts subjected to harmonic load variation

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the behavior of elastohydrodynamic contacts subjected to forced harmonic vibrations including the effect of changing various working parameters such as frequency, load amplitude and entrainment speed. Design/methodology/approach The time-dependent Reynolds equation is solved using the Newton–Raphson technique. The film thickness and pressure distribution are obtained at every time step by simultaneous solution of the Reynolds equation and film thickness equation including elastic deformation. Findings The frequency of vibration, load amplitude and entrainment speed are directly related to the film thickness perturbation, which is formed during load increasing phase of the cycle. The film thickness formed during load increasing phase is larger than that formed during load decreasing phase with larger deviation at a higher frequency or load amplitude and vice versa for lower frequency or load amplitude. The entrainment speed of the contact has an opposite effect to that of the frequency of vibration or load amplitude. Originality/value Physical explanations for the behavior of elastohydrodynamic contact subjected to forced harmonic vibration are presented in this paper for various working parameters of frequency, load amplitude and entrainment speed.