An Experimental Validation of the Recently Discovered Scale Effect in Generalized Newtonian EHL

An Experimental Validation of the Recently Discovered Scale Effect in Generalized Newtonian EHL

Článek recenzovaný mimo WoS a Scopus

New quantitative numerical simulations of the elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) film forming ability of generalized Newtonian liquids have elucidated a previously unrecognized property of EHL films. The dependency of the film thickness on the scale of the contact is greater when the viscosity is shear dependent within the inlet. Measurements of film thickness were performed in a ball on disc experiment using balls ranging from 5.5 to 35 mm in diameter. Three liquids were investigated with varying shear dependence in the range of stress important to film forming. The experimental results confirm the previous analytical findings. Numerical simulations using the measured viscosities show that the increased scale sensitivity is substantially the result of shear-thinning. However, the smallest scales produced films thinner than even the shear-dependent prediction, possibly indicating molecular degradation. It is quite likely that some machine components, which were designed using the effective viscous properties derived from a larger scale film thickness measurement, are operating with substantially lower film thickness than the designer had intended.

New quantitative numerical simulations of the elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) film forming ability of generalized Newtonian liquids have elucidated a previously unrecognized property of EHL films. The dependency of the film thickness on the scale of the contact is greater when the viscosity is shear dependent within the inlet. Measurements of film thickness were performed in a ball on disc experiment using balls ranging from 5.5 to 35 mm in diameter. Three liquids were investigated with varying shear dependence in the range of stress important to film forming. The experimental results confirm the previous analytical findings. Numerical simulations using the measured viscosities show that the increased scale sensitivity is substantially the result of shear-thinning. However, the smallest scales produced films thinner than even the shear-dependent prediction, possibly indicating molecular degradation. It is quite likely that some machine components, which were designed using the effective viscous properties derived from a larger scale film thickness measurement, are operating with substantially lower film thickness than the designer had intended.

Elastohydrodynamic; Film thickness; EHL; Rheology

Elastohydrodynamic; Film thickness; EHL; Rheology

KŘUPKA, I.; HARTL, M.; BAIR, S.; KUMAR, P.; KHONSARI, M.M.

2010

03.12.2008

Springer

1023-8883

Tribology letter

33

X

Nizozemsko

1

9

9