Abstract
Apart from complex numerical models to predict the tribological behavior of elastohydrodynamically lubricated contacts, non-dimensional similarity groups and analytically solvable proximity equations can be used to estimate integral fluid film parameters. Based upon the pioneering work presented by Dowson and Higginson as well as Blok and Moes, these approaches have been continuously improved over the years by modifications or correction factors to capture different contact geometries (line-, point- or elliptical contacts) as well as to include fluid compression, thermal, non-Newtonian, starvation or roughness effects. Consequently, this review article aims at systematically reviewing these modifications/corrections and discussing their applicability as well as limitations before presenting some recommendations for future research activities.
Highlights
Power transmission in machine elements or engine components such as rolling bearings, gears or cam/followers is generally achieved by concentrated rolling and rolling-sliding contacts, in which the rubbing bodies are locally elastically deformed due to the acting contact forces [1]
If the local elastic deformation and the lubricant film thickness are on a similar order of magnitude, this condition is usually referred to as elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) or, thermo-elastohydrodynamic lubrication (TEHL), when considering thermal effects as well
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)- or Navier-Stokes-based approaches are generally associated with high computational effort and numerical instabilities [5]
Summary
Power transmission in machine elements or engine components such as rolling bearings, gears or cam/followers is generally achieved by concentrated rolling and rolling-sliding contacts, in which the rubbing bodies are locally elastically deformed due to the acting contact forces [1]. Schematic illustration of an infinite EHL line-contact with the relevant variables for numerical calculations In addition to these rather complex and time-consuming simulation programs that allow for the investigation localrather and time-resolved phenomena, there are programs some analytically solvable. In addition toofthese complex and time-consuming simulation that allow for the proximity equations forand the simplified, integral calculationthere of important film parameterssolvable such as investigation of local time-resolved phenomena, are alsoEHL some analytically the minimum film height hmin or centralintegral lubricantcalculation gap hc These equationsEHL enable a fast and, in many proximity equations for the simplified, of important film parameters such cases, accurate approximation as lubricant well as thegap incorporation into superordinate multi-body as the sufficiently minimum film height hmin or central hc. It is important to mention that the dimensionless parameters from Dowson/Higginson and Blok/Moes are the most frequently used in literature [15,24]
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