AN ELASTOHYDRODYNAMIC CAVITATION ALGORITHM FOR PISTON-RING LUBRICATION

An elastohydrodynamic cavitation algorithm is developed for piston rin g lubrication. This algorithm combines a compressible fluid model, a p ressure-viscosity relation and elastic surface deformation with cavita tion. Also, it conserves mass pou and automatically determines full fi lm, cavitation and pressure reformation regions. Results for a typical automotive engine reveal that the pressure calculated by using the Re ynolds boundary condition leans to a large error in pressure in the fu ll-film region and, in turn, affects the film thickness prediction. Pi ston ring lubrication using the Reynolds boundary condition is conside red to be valid only when the pressure acting on the trailing edge of a piston ring is negligible.