Concise Data Set Formulation for Dynamically Loaded Conformal Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication Problems

Abstract

Abstract This paper introduces a concise data set formulation for efficient modeling of dynamically loaded conformal elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) problems. The data set represents the structural elasticity of the bearing members and is constructed independently of the lubricant film model. Data set construction involves modification of a previously published mode-based EHL formulation such that the resulting structural information is insensitive to changes in finite-element mesh density and thus to the modeling process itself. Curve-fitted expressions of modal information are introduced for elastic structures, which otherwise would normally be represented by large structural matrices. A data set is formulated for the sample case of a dynamically loaded big-end connecting-rod bearing, and the resulting bearing performance agrees well with previously published node- and mode-based EHL methods.