Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication of Soft, Highly Deformed Contacts

Abstract

Part 1 presents a theoretical solution to the problem of lubrication of soft, highly deformed surfaces. It is argued that with this type of contact the inlet and outlet regions can be separated and analysed independently. This approach leads to a single value of non-dimensional film thickness at the point of maximum contact pressure and to a non-dimensional minimum film thickness dependent on the relationship between the inlet and outlet parameters. In Part 2, these results are applied to the problems of a cylinder sliding on an elastomer lined surface, an elastomer lined journal bearing and a sliding O-ring seal.