A Dual Experimental/Numerical Approach for Film Thickness Analysis in TEHL Spinning Skewing Circular Contacts

Studies on the behaviour of rolling bearings show that the position as well as the loading of the rolling element at the flange roller-end contact depends on the momentum created on the roller track caused by local friction variability. This situation is characterized by a skew angle that varies within a limited range in the application influenced also by the clearance in the cage pockets. This paper provides some elements which contribute to increase the understanding of the physical phenomena occurring in lubricated spinning contacts under skew. An experimental investigation is carried out using a unique in-house test rig called Tribogyr, dedicated to large size-contacts with spinning and skewing kinematics. Alongside the experiments, a numerical analysis is conducted, based on a finite element approach, aiming to take into account the multiphysics aspect of this thermo-elastohydrodynamic problem. The model and the experiments show a good agreement. The skew effects on film thickness of spinning flange/roller-end contacts are characterized by a global decrease of central film thickness, mainly due to high shear of the lubricant, involving thermal thinning. The shallow dimple captured by the in situ measurements of film thickness can be explained as a consequence of the viscosity wedge due to different thermal conductivities between glass and steel. The dual experimental–theoretical approach was a useful method that help to study separate phenomena which are naturally coupled each other.