Effect of surface roughness on elastohydrodynamic traction. Part 2

Abstract

To investigate the performance of a traction-drive toroidal continuously variable transmission, the traction characteristics under partial elastohydrodynamic lubrication contact were calculated theoretically based on roller test results. A calculation model was constructed for considering the effects of surface roughness on performance. The model incorporated a viscoelastic and elastic-plastic model using a nonlinear Maxwell model to represent the rheological behaviour of the traction fluid. The validity of the model was confirmed by its good agreement with the experimental results described in Part 1 of this paper. Various calculations were made to investigate the effect of surface roughness on traction under the operating conditions of an actual traction drive. The results indicated that the effect of surface roughness on durability could not be ignored.