Modelling three-dimensional soft elastohydrodynamic lubrication contact of heterogeneous materials

This paper presents an approach for modelling three-dimensional soft elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) contact of heterogeneous materials. In this approach, a hydrodynamic interface element is developed to achieve the coupling of elastic deformation of heterogeneous contacting bodies and the steady-state hydrodynamic lubrication at the contact interface. The deformation behaviors are simulated by the finite element method, while the hydrodynamic lubrication is dealt with by solving the Reynolds equation. This approach can enable the simulation of soft EHL contact between bodies with heterogeneous materials and complicated geometric configurations. Predicted lubrication performances of soft EHL contacts show good agreement with the experimental measurements reported in literature. Analysis and discussion are also conducted on various cases of soft EHL contact between an elastic ball and a coating-substrate system with or without inhomogeneities.