Investigation of the temperature distribution in the elastohydrodynamic oil film

Results of investigations of the temperature distribution in elastohydrodynamic (EHD) contacts carried out on a two-disc machine for various contact parameters (rolling and sliding speeds and maximum Hertz pressures) are reported in this paper.The experiments were carried out with the aid of thin layer temperature transducers made of titanium that were evaporated onto the disc's surface in vacuum.Analysis of the errors affecting the temperature measurements in EHD contact was also carried out. It was shown that contact pressure and transducer insulation had a substantial influence on the precision of the temperature measurements made by the thin layer transducer. Error analysis has permitted the determination of the real value of the temperature rise in the contact zone by the application of suitable corrections.It was found that the relative sliding velocity and the contact loading force have substantial and similar influences on the maximum temperature rise in the EHD contact; however, the influence of the rolling velocity is relatively small.A simple empirical formula which permits the calculation of the maximum temperature rise in the contact zone as a function of load and velocity for the investigated oil is presented in this paper. The general formula as a function of non-dimensional parameters is also given. It was found that theoretical formulae which include the exact dependences of the viscosity variation on pressure and temperature (e.g. the Kannel equation) provide the best fit to the experimental results.Good agreement of the results obtained with other researchers' experimental results was also found.