Traction in EHL Contacts based on local temperature measurements

To reduce losses in rolling element bearings the understanding of traction plays an important role. Whilst the film thickness has been extensively studied, traction calculations rely heavily on assumptions and rheological models. Whilst many rheological models have been proposed based on empirical data from traction tests, these models often miss a physical explanation of the fluid behaviour in the contact. This is due to the fact, that most of these models are based on integral results. In the following paper the authors present a model for the maximum shear stress and a method to calculate traction based on this model. The integral traction data is however, supported by local temperature measurements conducted with infrared thermographic camera. Thus the integral model of the maximum shear stress is supported by local temperature data leading to good agreements between experiment and simulation. Furthermore this may allow a better understanding of the physical fluid characteristics.