ELASTOHYDRODYNAMIC LUBRICATION OF CYLINDERS WITH SOFT INCOMPRESSIBLE COATINGS FIRMLY BONDED TO THE SUBSTRATE

A numerical solution to the inverse elastohydrodynamic lubrication pro blem of a cylindrical line contact involving one- or two-sided incompr essible coatings fully bonded to the substrate is presented. Instead o f using a full elasticity solution, a thin layer approximation for the surface displacement is adopted for a low ratio of the layer thicknes s to the contact half width. The outlet point is assumed to coincide w ith the end of the dry contact and the condition of zero fluid pressur e gradient at the outlet is released. For the dry contact width much l arger than the layer thickness the Meijers asymptotic value is taken. An analytical central film thickness formula is given that agrees well for this case with the values obtained from the full solution.