This dissertation consists of four related studies. The first part provides dimensionless film thickness equations for four fluid-film lubrication regimes found for nonconformal surfaces while considering side-leakage effects. These regimes are isoviscous rigid, piezoviscous rigid, isoviscous elastic, and piezoviscous elastic. The influence or lack of influence of elastic effects from the solid surfaces and pressure-viscosity effects from the lubricant is a factor that distinguishes these regimes. Results are presented as a map of the lubrication regimes for four values of the ellipticity parameter.; The second part deals with integrating artificial intelligence and conventional numerical design techniques to aid in tribological design. The study concentrates on the application of contact stresses. The result is a computer code, the Design Expert for Contact Stress, which incorporates and combines an expert system with numerical analysis techniques to aid the user in designing machine elements. This menu-driven program also performs a design compatibility analysis, which evaluates the compatibility between the specifications and the design, provides a rating on the overall design, lists reasons for the evaluation, and gives suggestions for improvements.; The third part investigates the rheological effects in elastohydrodynamic lubrication. In this study the effects on fluid viscosity of pressure, temperature, shear strain rate, shear stress, and time are examined. A number of non-Newtonian models are introduced. The effects of pressure on fluid density are described. The role of solidification pressure on the density of the lubricants is also examined. The possible influence of a lubricant's viscoelastic behavior on its viscosity is considered. Finally, the influence of rheological effects on elastohydrodynamic lubrication is explained.; The last part describes fundamental research into the basic mechanisms involved in piston ring lubrication. A recently developed system numerical approach is used for obtaining the lubrication characteristics of the piston ring-cylinder liner conjunction. A complete hydrodynamic and elastohydrodynamic lubrication analysis considering lubricant film shapes and pressure profiles is performed. This requires the simulation of both squeeze and entraining motion of the piston ring throughout an engine cycle. Existence of fluid-film lubrication throughout the engine cycle is examined.
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