The Effects of Small Sinusoidal Load Variations in Elastohydrodynamic Line Contacts
Résumé
A method of determining the response of elastohydrodynamic line contacts to low amplitude, sinusoidal variations in load is presented. It is shown that the load variations alter the Hertz width, cyclically increasing and reducing the effective entrainment velocity. This produces clearance variations in the inlet, which are transported through the conjunction altering the pressure distribution as they pass. The resulting pressure and clearance changes can be many times greater than when the load changes slowly. The results are used to determine the flexibility and damping of the conjunctions. These vary depending on the number of transported waves inside the contact. It is shown that a Maxwell model rather than the usual Voigt model is required to define the contact’s behavior. While the Voigt model may be used at low frequencies, it has a damping coefficient that is not unique to the contact but depends on the total system stiffness.