The size-dependent elastohydrodynamic lubrication contact of a coated half-plane with non-Newtonian fluid

Abstract Based on the couple-stress theory, the elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) contact is analyzed with a consideration of the size effect. The lubricant between the contact surface of a homogeneous coated half-plane and a rigid punch is supposed to be the non-Newtonian fluid. The density and viscosity of the lubricant are dependent on fluid pressure. Distributions of film thickness, in-plane stress, and fluid pressure are calculated by solving the nonlinear fluid-solid coupled equations with an iterative method. The effects of the punch radius, size parameter, coating thickness, slide/roll ratio, entraining velocity, resultant normal load, and stiffness ratio on lubricant film thickness, in-plane stress, and fluid pressure are investigated. The results demonstrate that fluid pressure and film thickness are obviously dependent on the size parameter, stiffness ratio, and coating thickness.