Prediction of Traction in Sliding EHD Contacts

Abstract

An existing shear stress theory and lubricant rheological model were studied and evaluated by applying them to traction prediction in a sliding elastohydrodynamic point contact. Numerical calculations, using measured film thickness and surface temperature data, were compared with measured tractions under several conditions of normal load and sliding speed. In addition, the theory was used to study the effect on the traction of variations in the lubricant material properties.