AN ENGINEERING APPROACH TO DETERMINISTIC MODELING OF MIXED-FILM CONTACTS

This paper presents the base model of an engineering approach to deter ministic modeling of mixed-film contacts. Various modeling techniques are employed to achieve a proper balance among model robustness, solut ion accuracy and computational efficiency. The EHL variables of the co ntact are approximated to enhance the model robustness while asperity contact pressures are numerically calculated to provide deterministic results at the asperity level. Each asperity junction is modeled as a Hertzian contact, resulting in a small number of deterministic variabl es to allow efficient numerical analyses of transient contact/lubricat ion problems. The base model presented in this paper provides a platfo rm on which more complete models can be developed to study transient a sperity pressures, temperatures and lubricant additive effects. It may also be further developed into a computer-aided engineering design-an alysis tool of machine components with lubricated concentrated contact s.