Effects of Solid Temperature and Ambient Pressure on Thermal Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication Solutions

Tribological machine elements, such as rolling element bearings and gears, are often used in mechanical components and various industrial applications. The contact interfaces and sliding parts fundamentally consist of two solid and one liquid lubricant, and they are operated under a thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication (TEHL) condition. The TEHL solution characteristics depend on the operating conditions and lubricant physical properties, as well as the surrounding environment, including the temperature along the solid surfaces and pressure adjacent to lubricated contact. Herein, we numerically examine the influence of both solid temperature and ambient pressure on TEHL solutions at the nominal line contact and discuss the synergistic effects. Any changes in the physical properties of the lubricants are considered either together or separately as functions of temperature and pressure. The high ambient pressure enhances the effects of the solid temperatures on the resultant TEHL solutions. Regardless of the solid temperature and ambient pressure conditions, the TEHL solutions for all the lubricant models are grouped into two in terms of thermal conductivity.