Multigrid, an Alternative Method of Solution for Two-Dimensional Elastohydrodynamically Lubricated Point Contact Calculations

Detailed and accurate film thickness and pressure profiles have been calculated for point contacts at moderate and high loads, using a multigrid method. The influence of the compressibility of the lubricant and of the number of nodal points on the calculated minimum film thickness and maximum spike pressure have been examined. The required computing time is two orders of magnitude less, compared with the calculations using “classical” iterative methods.