Model of fluid–structure interaction and its application to elastohydrodynamic lubrication

• Published in: Computer methods in applied mechanics and engineering Vol. 191; no. 37; pp. 4231 - 4240
• Main Authors: Yiping, Hong, Darong, Chen, Xianmei, Kong, Jiadao, Wang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 16.08.2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Computational techniques; Elastohydrodynamic lubrication; Exact sciences and technology; Finite-element and galerkin methods; Fluid–structure interactions; Friction, wear, lubrication; Machine components; Mathematical methods in physics; Mechanical engineering. Machine design; Multigrid techniques; Physics; Side leakage; Stress horseshoe; Stress horseshoe; Fluid–structure interactions; 16; 28; 29; 80; Multigrid techniques; 60; Side leakage; Elastohydrodynamic lubrication; Finite element method; Three dimensional model; Navier Stokes equation; Multigrid; Leak; Numerical method; Layer thickness; Reynolds equation; Modeling; Tribology
• ISSN: 0045-7825; 1879-2138
• DOI: 10.1016/S0045-7825(02)00376-6

This paper presents a finite element computational model for a three-dimensional simulation of fluid–structure interactions in an elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) system. Methods on the soft and hard EHL are discussed in detail. To accelerate convergence, multigrid techniques are used to give the initial film thickness. Navier–Stokes equations are applied to describe the flow field in the narrow gaps. The structural dynamics solver is based on the total Lagrangian description of motion. Compared with traditional methods in EHL, this model can reveal the oil behaviors of side leakage and the distribution of stress horseshoe in the structure. It is stable and convenient for cases when the fluid domain is extremely small compared with that of the structure in the hard EHL problems.