Practical applications of lubrication models in engines

As automobile fuel efficiency has grown in importance over the past few yea rs so the questions concerning friction and wear (durability) in engines ha ve grown in significance, This paper describes practical ways in which lubr ication models have been developed and applied to key sub-systems (valve tr ains, piston assemblies and bearings) in engines to gain insight into the o ptimisation of overall performance, that is the balance between reducing fr iction whilst maintaining acceptable durability. The effects of lubricant r heology, hydrodynamic, elastohydrodynamic and boundary conditions on fricti on and wear will be explored under both steady state and transient conditio ns and comparisons made with experimental results. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.