The present numerical study investigates the combined effect of micro-texture and magneto hydrodynamic lubrication behavior on the performance of elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) line contact. Micro-textures, which are found in the inlet zone of a contacting surface, are studied, and modified Reynolds, elasticity, and load balance equations have been solved using Finite element analysis (FEA) and Generalized Minimal Residual Method (GMRES). A parametric study has been performed to optimize the micro-texture shapes in the contacting surfaces for different values of magneto hydrodynamic lubricant parameters. The numerical results show that increasing externally applied magnetic field and micro-texture shapes enhances the values of performance parameter of EHL line contact. Finally, the variation in the steady-state EHL characteristics pertaining to unidirectional pure sliding contacts due to an artificially produced inlet zone of micro-texture shapes (IZMTS) is investigated numerically. The enhancement in central and minimum film thickness is found to be up to 38 and 28% respectively, along with 33.28% reduction in coefficient of friction.

No abstract

This paper presents numerical investigation on elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) of line contacts lubricated with micropolar fluids. Numerical model of EHL line contact has been developed by coupled solution of Reynolds equation, elastic deformation equation, load balance equation and fluid rheology equation from inlet to the outlet region. This system of equations has been solved using finite element method techniques. The influence of micropolar fluid parameters and operating parameter on the performances EHL line contacts has been investigated. Further, a comparative assessment on the micropolar and Newtonian fluid-lubricated contact has been presented. It has been observed that the use of micropolar fluid parameters enhances the values of minimum and central fluid film thickness and contact pressure within the EHL line contacts. The empirical formulae for minimum H min ð Þ and central H cent ð Þfluid film thickness are formulated based on the numerically simulated results. The study reveals that overall performances of EHL line contacts increases significantly with micropolar fluid parameter. Further, it has been observed due to micropolar lubricant in EHL line contacts, chances of metal-to-metal contact reduces.