Experimental Results and Analytical Predictions of EHL Film Thickness

Chaomleffel Jean Pierre (1) , Dalmaz Gérard (1) , Philippe Vergne (1)

1 LaMCoS - Laboratoire de Mécanique des Contacts et des Structures [Villeurbanne]

In this work, we consider several types of lubricants - including non-Newtonian fluids - that were studied under various operating conditions leading us to explore a wide range of dimensionless parameters. The experimental results are compared with predictions given by the usual analytical EHL relationships and by more recently developed models. This broad comparison conducted with particular emphasis on minimum film thickness (hm) showed a fair agreement between experimental data and a few predictions including some obtained from extended models. Commonly used elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) models did not systematically gave accurate hm estimation, whereas minimum film thickness not only is a yield value but also serves as a key parameter in estimating lubrication regimes.

Mots clés: EHL film thickness measurements; minimum film thickness; EHL models; lubricant properties; non-Newtonian behaviour

Domaines: Matériaux et structures en mécanique [physics.class-ph]; Matériaux et structures en mécanique [physics.class-ph]

Chaomleffel Jean Pierre, Dalmaz Gérard, Philippe Vergne. Experimental Results and Analytical Predictions of EHL Film Thickness. 33rd Leeds Lyon Symposium on Tribology "Tribology at the Interface", Sep 2006, Leeds, United Kingdom. ⟨hal-00141919⟩