Analysis of Line Contact Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication with the Particles under Rough Contact Surface

Abstract

A numerical solution for line contact elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) occurring on the rough surface of heterogeneous materials with a group of particles is presented in this study. The film thickness disturbance caused by particles and roughness is considered into the solution system, and the film pressure between the contact gap generated by the particles and the surface roughness is obtained through a unified Reynold equation system. The inclusions buried in the matrix are made equivalent to areas with the same material as that of the matrix through Eshelby’s equivalent inclusion method and the roughness is characterized by related functions. The results present the effects of different rough topographies combined with the related parameters of the particles on the EHL performance, and the minimum film thickness distribution under different loads, running speeds, and initial viscosities are also investigated. The results show that the roughness morphology and the particles can affect the behavior of the EHL, the traction force on a square rough surface is smaller, and the soft particles have more advantages for improving the EHL performance.