Prediction of film thickness decay in starved elasto-hydrodynamically lubricated contacts using a thin layer flow model

The prediction of bearing life and performance requires detailed knowledge of the behaviour of elasto-hydrodynamically lubricated (EHL) contacts under varying conditions of load and lubricant supply during many load cycles. Considering starved lubrication, a model is developed that predicts the change of the supply layer to the EHL contact. As the film thickness inside a starved EHL contact is determined by the thickness and distribution of the supply layer, this model can be used to predict the film thickness decay. A formula for the central film thickness decay is obtained for the long-term operation of circular or elliptical contacts under starved conditions. The model is validated experimentally.