Thermoelastic Effects in Lubricated Rolling/Sliding Line Contacts

A numerical model was developed to investigate the subsurface mechanical and thermal stresses in rolling/sliding machine elements operating under elasto-hydrodynamic (EHD) lubrication of line contacts. A thermal non-Newtonian EHD lubrication model was modified to include the thermoelastic displacement of the solids. The pressure, film thickness, and temperature distribution obtained from the model were used to calculate the subsurface mechanical and thermal stresses within the rolling/sliding machine elements. The thermoelastic effects on the magnitude and location of the maximum shear stresses are presented.