Modeling of lubrication in micro contact

A thorough understanding of the mechanisms of micro contact lubrication and failure is required in order to optimize machine component design for extreme operating conditions. In the very low A ratio, the ratio of lubricant film thickness to surface roughness, asperity contacts play an important role. Analysis of lubrication and failure of micro contact should include details of surface topography and its characterization, asperity contact pressure, micro lubrication pressure and film shape, as well as micro contact temperature. These aspects are discussed in this paper and typical numerical results are given. Modeling and simulation tools are available to describe the solid contact of asperity tips and the collapse of the lubricant film. It appears possible to investigate the transition from full EHL to boundary lubrication by using the model developed.