Mixed Thermo elastohydrodynamic lubrication analysis of finite length cam and follower mechanism

Abstract

A considerable portion of the power loss in a valve train mechanism is due to the losses in the cam follower mechanism. The surface of cam and follower experience counterformal contact with a varying nature that makes it a difficult component in an engine to model. Transient contact geometry and entraining may cause the inlet boundary reversal and short lived cessation of entraining motion which can lead to mixed regime of lubrication. Thermal effects and side leakage intensify the adverse governing tribological condition. This paper presents a thermo-elastohydrodynamic model with considering roughness of surfaces for a finite length cam-follower mechanism. Temperature variation, friction coefficient, and film thickness are the outputs of this model which can be used to evaluate the performance of this mechanical element. The results are validated by comparison to other published data. The results show that thermal effects, side leakage and roughness of contacting surfaces play an important role in the tribological performance of the mechanism. A friction analysis considering a comprehensive asperity interaction model is conducted to investigate the proposed lubrication model capability.