Micro-Elastohydrodynamic Squeeze-Film Lubrication of Compliant Layered Surfaces Firmly Bonded to a Rigid Substrate

Abstract

The micro-elastohydrodynamic lubrication mechanism associated with asperities superimposed upon a compliant layered bearing surface firmly bonded to a rigid substrate under squeeze-film motion has been considered in this study. A simple cosine has been assumed for the roughness profile. Both Reynolds' equation and the elasticity equation have been solved simultaneously and results for the pressure distribution and film profile have been obtained for a wide range of roughness amplitudes and wavelengths. It has been found that the roughness on the compliant layered bearing surface is hardly deformed under squeeze-film motion, particularly in the centre of the contact, where the lubricant flow is minimum, while a slight increase in micro-elastohydrodynamic action occurs near the edge of the contact region. The consequence is that both the minimum film thickness and the squeeze-film velocity are reduced and the pressure distribution is only slightly modified compared with the smooth surface solution. Therefore, it is concluded from this study that micro-elastohydrodynamic action is less pronounced under pure squeeze-film motion than with sliding motion.