Squeeze films between a rigid cylinder and an elastic layer bonded to a rigid foundation

A numerical solution to the elastohydrodynamic lubrication problem of a rigid cylinder and an elastic layer firmly bonded to a rigid substrate in normal approach and separated by a fluid of constant viscosity is presented. The rate of change of the deformation with time was neglected in the present investigation. The governing equations were solved via an iterative method in order to compute the pressure distribution and the corresponding film profile.Influences of the layer thickness, the layer compressibility and the central squeeze-film velocity on the results were investigated. In the case of the Hertzian contact, the present method was validated against the results reported in Herrebrugh [Elastohydrodynamic squeeze films between two cylinders in normal approach, Trans ASME, J Lubric Technol Ser F 1970; 92:292–302] where the results showed a very good agreement.