Micro-elastohydrodynamic lubrication of coated cylinders using coupled differential deflection method

A numerical solution for the micro-elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) problem of two coated elastic bodies in line contact is presented. This incorporates non-Newtonian behaviour of the lubricant, using an Eyring-type non-linear viscous model. The surface elastic deformations are computed from full elasticity analysis of layered elastic half-spaces. The coupled differential deflection method is used in the numerical solution of the micro-EHL mathematical model. Results are presented for smooth surface, steady-state problems that compare the influence of coating elastic modulus and coating thickness on calculated lubricant pressure and film thickness distributions. Some transient results are also included, where the effect of coatings on a single ridge feature and on a rough surface in rolling/sliding contact is examined.