Analysis of isothermal elastohydrodynamic point contacts lubricated by Newtonian fluids using multigrid methods

Abstract

A multigrid multi-integration method has been used to solve the elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) point contact problem over a large range of loads. Solutions obtained with the multigrid method are compared with those computed with an effective influence Newton method. Good agreement has been obtained, which validates the results obtained by both of these independent methods. Smooth surface problems have been used to test the multigrid method, but an example that takes into account a wavy surface has demonstrated the robustness and the large potential of the multigrid method to analyse EHL problems with three-dimensional surface roughness.