Another form of lubrication is the 'elastohydrodynamic' lubrication. In this method of lubrication, pressures are large enough to cause significant elastic deformation of the lubricated surfaces itself. That means there is 'injury' involved for the surfaces in contact. As compared to 'hydrodynamic' lubrication (H.L.), covering ellipsometry, sliding motion and fluid viscosity all play essential roles. Temperature effects and insufficient lubrication supply to the 'E.H.L.' film and boundary lubrication also affect the performance of lubrication, as much as the 'hydrodynamic' lubrication (H.L.).
The distinguishable quality between 'H.L.' and 'E.H.L.' involves the added importance of material hardness, viscosity increment under high pressure and degree of geometric conformation of the contacting surfaces.
Conformal surfaces will match snugly. Just like the journal in a sleeve bearing with 'hydrodynamic' lubrication, so that the load is carried on a relatively large area. As for 'non' conformal surfaces (2 contacting rollers), the load must be carried on a small area. Commonly, the order of 1000 fold smaller than with a conformal conjunction.
There are the hard 'elastohydrodynamic' lubrication (H.E.H.L.) and soft 'elastohydrodynamic' lubrication (E.H.L.). For 'H.E.H.L.', a best example would be a ball on a flat surface, with load being applied on top of the ball, with the ball rolling on the flat surface. Hence, the rolling action, common in gear teeth, cams and friction drives. Since the the load is a concentrated one, 'hydrodynamic' lubrication of these 'H.E.H.L.' contacts is commonly characterized by a very thin separating oil ellipsometrythat supports local stresses.
As for the 'E.H.L.' or soft 'elastohydrodynamic' lubrication, low contact pressure is involved. Therefore, there is negligible effect on fluid viscosity in the conjunction. Analytical relations are simpler for the soft 'E.H.L.', as compared to 'H.E.H.L.' (hard) encountered for rolling element bearings.
tag : ellipsometry
