COMBINED INFLUENCE OF VISCOUS DISSIPATION AND STARVATION ON FILM THICKNESS IN GREASE LUBRICATED LINE CONTACTS: A COMPARISON WITH OIL FILM THICKNESS

摘要

A thermal analysis of inlet zone of grease lubricated line contact operating in EHL regime is carried out considering the combined influence of viscous heat generation and starvation. It is observed that minimum film thickness computed with only base oil properties of grease is always lesser than the minimum film thickness evaluated using grease rheological properties. Moreover, starvation and thermal effects both reduce minimum film thickness substantially.