Reduced order finite element model for elastohydrodynamic lubrication: Circular contacts

•Reduced size FEM model for EHL circular contacts.•CPU times reduced by an order of 30 times.•Memory requirements reduced by almost two orders of magnitude.•Negligible loss of precision from model reduction in the prediction of film thickness.•Robust numerical solution over a wide range of operating conditions.

This paper presents an extension of the reduced order finite element model to the case of circular elastohydrodynamic lubricated (EHL) contacts under isothermal Newtonian considerations. The line contact model was developed and validated in a previous work (Advances in Engineering Software, 2013; 56:51−62). The model is based on a finite element discretization of the EHL equations: Reynolds, linear elasticity and load balance with a reduced order model for the linear elasticity part. All equations are solved simultaneously in a fully-coupled framework using a damped-Newton procedure allowing fast convergence rates for the global solution. This model combines fast convergence rates, reduced memory requirements and negligible model reduction errors compared to the full model which makes it an attractive tool for EHL contact performance prediction.