The Starved Lubrication of Cylinders in Line Contact

Abstract

A semi-analytical solution is presented showing the effect of variations in the position of the inlet boundary of the lubricant film upon the load capacity of cylinders in line contact. Firstly, isoviscous conditions and undeformed surfaces are assumed; by the use of appropriate non-dimensional parameters, the results of the theory can be exhibited as a single function applicable to all possible experimental conditions. This can then be transformed to deduce a similar unique expression showing the proportional reduction in the minimum film thickness for variations in the position of the inlet boundary, all other conditions being maintained constant. A similar analytical solution is presented showing the effect of the position of the inlet boundary upon the film thickness under heavy loads. This assumes full elastohydrodynamic conditions and is based upon an analysis similar to the familiar theoretical treatment of Grubin. Comparisons show that published computer solutions of these problems, for specific sets of conditions, are in good agreement with the more general analytical solutions presented here.