An investigation of the hydrodynamic and mechanical behaviour of a soft nip rolling contact

A combined experimental and numerical investigation into the behaviour at the nip formed by the junction of a hard and soft elastomer covered roller is described. Experimental measurement of pressure at the film and elastomer-substrate interface are presented along with the speed differential due to microslip and thermal transients due to elastomer hysteresis. A unified finite element model of the nip is also presented where Newtonian behaviour is adopted to reflect the use of a gear oil as the lubricant in the experimental work. The system response was found to be dependent on engagement, contact width, surface speed and elastomer properties in particular. It was found that this contact type cannot be described accurately with a Hertzian model which has been adopted in all previous studies.