A mechanism of fluid replenishment in elastohydrodynamic contacts

Abstract The use of aerated oil has enabled observation of the direction of flow around an elastohydrodynamic contact formed between a glass plate and steel ball. Replenishment of the inlet region from lubricant side bands was seen to occur within the inlet meniscus. The balance between the rate at which oil is entrained and the rate at which it is lost around the contact edges determines the inlet boundary position. Similar replenishment action has also been observed to occur in line contact using blended rollers.