ELASTOHYDRODYNAMIC LUBRICATION OF AIR-LUBRICATED ROLLERS

The lubricating air film between two rotating rollers in close contact was studied numerically. The numerical model used in this study accou nts for the effects of air compressibility, material deformation, and the slip flow which occurs when the air film thickness is not much lar ger than the mean-free-path of the air molecules. The air film profile s and the pressure profiles for the nip region between the rollers wer e calculated It was found that the calculated air film thicknesses are lower than predicted by the liquid elastohydrodynamic calculation. Fr om this study, equations for the minimum air film thickness, the air f ilm thickness at the center of contact, and the amount of air that pas ses through the nip were obtained This study has application to the pr ediction of the amount of air entrained in a winding roll.