The effect of an oscillatory entrainment velocity on the film thickness in thermal EHL point contact

In this study, the mathematical model for transient thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) was established and the effect of tangential vibration on thermal EHL was investigated. The pressure calculation was carried out by a multi-grid technique, the elastic deformation was evaluated by a multilevel multi-intergration method, and the temperature was calculated by a single-direction sequential column sweeping process. The present study aims to explain the multi-dimple phenomenon observed experimentally by Ehret and Bauget [Proc Inst Mech Eng Part J: J Eng Tribal 2001; 215: 289-300]. The results show that a tangential vibration produces significant change of pressure and film thickness and it seems to be the most possible mechanism of the movement of multi-dimples observed by Ehret and Bauget [Proc last Mech Eng PartJ: J Eng Tribal 2001; 215: 289-300]. Furthermore, the effect of the curvature radius, viscosity-pressure coefficient, load and the parameters of vibration was also investigated. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.