A mixed soft elastohydrodynamic lubrication model with interasperity cavitation and surface shear deformation

A deterministic mixed lubrication model, governing the interface between a moving smooth rigid surface and a stationary rough elastic surface, has been developed. Both the normal and shear deformations of the elastic surface are considered as well as interasperity cavitation. Utilizing an analogy between the hydrodynamic lubrication (with cavitation) problem and the asperity contact problem, a generalized computational formulation is derived and a unique solution scheme constructed to solve these seemingly different problems. The model has been applied to the,rotary lip seal, and used to predict the performance characteristics over a range of shaft speeds.