CORRELATION OF ELASTOHYDRODYNAMIC FILM THICKNESS MEASUREMENTS FOR FLUOROCARBON, TYPE II ESTER, AND POLYPHENYL ETHER LUBRICANTS

摘要

A minimum films thickness correlation applicable to heavily loaded elastohydrodynamic (EHD) contacts was formulated from experimental data obtained by an X-ray transmission technique. The correlation, based on data generated with fluorocarbon, type II ester, and polyphony ether lubricants, extends a previous analysis developed from data for synthetic paraffinic oil. The resulting correlation represents the data of the four lubricants reasonably well over a large range of operating conditions. Contained within the derived relation is a factor to account for the highload dependence displayed by the measurements beyond that which is provided for by theory. Thermal corrections applied to a commonly used film thickness formula showed little improvement to the general disagreement that exists between theory and test. Choice of contact geometry and material are judged to have a relatively mild influence on the form of the semiempirical model.