A numerical study of lubricant lm behaviour subject to periodic loading

Khalid Zarbane
a,n
, Thami Zeghloul
b
, Mohamed Hajjam
b,1
a
Laboratoire de Mecanique Productique & Ge nie Industriel (LMPGI), Ecole Superieure de Technologie de Casablanca, BP 8012 Oasis, Route dEl Jadida, 20000 Casablanca, Morocco
b
Institut Pprime, Departement Ge nie Me canique & Syst emes complexes, CNRS-Universite de Poitiers-ENSMA UPR 3346, 4, Avenue de Varsovie, 16021 Angouleme, France
a r t i c l e i n f o
Article history:
Received 23 April 2010
Received in revised form
7 April 2011
Accepted 9 June 2011
Available online 25 June 2011
Keywords:
Squeeze lm
Finite element
ADI method
Cavitation
a b s t r a c t
This article aims at presenting a numerical study of the behaviour of uid lm subjected to a periodic
squeeze action. Three numerical codes based on JFO theory have been developed and compared. The
rst code supposes the lubricant compressibility while the two other ones use the remplishment (lling
up) notion. The equations from these two versions are discretized by the nite differences method and
the nite elements method. The goal is to illustrate the lubricant lm behaviour during an inversion
phase of the applied dynamic load and rapid speeds change and determine the model and the numeric
method able to predict all the hydrodynamic characteristics of a thin lubricant lm subjected to
periodic loading. The study demonstrates the nite element (FE) code efciency and the limit of the
nite difference (FD) code that supposes the lm compressibility. It shows also the effects of the
frequency and the average lm thickness on the lm load-carrying capacity and the rupture.
& 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
In lubricated mechanical systems, oils are widely used as thin
lm to reduce wear due to friction and to create damping in order
to dissipate undesirable mechanical vibrations. In practical hydro-
dynamic lubrication applications, the lubricant lm can be
subjected to a shear, compression or traction. According to the
geometric and kinematic of contact surfaces and the type of
loading, these strains can be simple or compound, transitory,
periodic or permanent. In bearings under static loading, for
example, the shaft rotation while shearing the lm leads it to a
convergentdivergent space. In the converging area, the pressure
of the lm grows. The hydrodynamic load-carrying capacity
resulting opposes the applied load. In the divergent area, the lm
is relaxed. In this zone, the lm pressure falls below atmospheric
pressure causing the rupture of the lm which is commonly
referred to as the cavitation. The rupture zone acquires a stable
form and a stationary position. The effects of this rupture on
performance and stability of this kind of bearing are mastered and
well documented in the literature. In bearings under dynamic
loading where the shaft velocity and the load applied change in
direction and intensity, the lm can be subjected not only to shear
but also to transient or periodic squeezing/pulling up actions.
These actions are found for example in automotive engine main
crankshaft, or connecting rods journal bearing and aircraft turbine
engine Squeeze Film Dampers (SFD).
In squeeze phase (compression or positive squeeze), the lm
pressure increases and pushes the liquid outwards. The hydro-
dynamic load-carrying capacity that results is time function. It
prevents surface contacts and absorbs vibration. During the pull-
ing up phase (traction or negative squeeze), the lm pressure
drops abruptly and reaches values lower than the ambient
pressure, generating, under some conditions, the lubricant lm
rupture. Moreover, the rupture zone is non-stationary (dynamic)
and its shape is complex. In the meantime, the extent of these
areas varies spatial-temporally. It can reduce the lm hydrody-
namic load-carrying capacity and can have a destructive effect on
the contact surfaces. The dynamic rupture is not well understood
yet. However, the effects (damage) it causes are already partly
identied. Indeed, various works highlight the presence of eroded
areas caused by the lm rupture in the main crankshaft bearing in
truck diesel engine, or in connecting rod bearings or in an
elastomeric seal. Therefore, the performance control of these
lubrication devices is strongly linked to the understanding of
the behaviour of the lubricant lm when subjected to this loading
type. For this reason, several theoretical, numerical and experi-
mental studies have been conducted. In 1964, Hays and Feiten [1]
were the rst to demonstrate experimentally that the rupture can
occur by separation of two circular contact surfaces that are
completely immersed in a liquid bath. Within this same contact,
Rodrigues [2] examined the behaviour of a lm subjected to
a periodic load. In his study, the frequency of oscillations is
limited to 2 Hz. In 1982, Parkins and Stanley [3] extended the
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Tribology International
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doi:10.1016/j.triboint.2011.06.007
n
Corresponding author. Tel.: 212 661663560.
E-mail addresses: zarbane@est_uh2c.ac.ma,
khalidzarbane@yahoo.fr (K. Zarbane),
thami.zeghloul@univ-poitiers.fr (T. Zeghloul),
mohamed.hajjam@univ-poitiers.fr (M. Hajjam).
1
Tel.: 335456732112; fax: 33545670237.
Tribology International 44 (2011) 16591667
study of [2] and treated a square plate and frequencies up to
50 Hz. It is now commonly known that the lm rupture occurs
when the pressure of the lm is below the ambient pressure.
Depending on the level of pressure drop, Dowson and Taylor [4]
conclude that the lm rupture can occur in three ways:
1. When pressure within the lm is below the ambient pressure
(PoP
amb
), air or gas from the atmosphere can penetrate
regions in depression.
2. When the pressure is lower than the saturation pressure of gas
dissolved in the lubricating lm (PoP
sat
), these gases can be
expelled.
3. When the pressure within the lm reaches the saturation
vapour pressure (PoP
cav
), lubricant liquid vaporises at room
temperature.
In 1989, Hashemi and Roylance [5] theoretically examined the
effect of inertia and the oscillations amplitude and squeezing
velocity on the behaviour of the lm. The following works on this
theme, especially those of Kumar and Booker [6,7], Boedo and
Booker [8], Optasanu and Bonneau [9] and then Bonneau and
Hajjam [10], aimed at validating their new models through the
study of the lubricant lm rupture in bearings under dynamic
load. Very recently, Sun and al. [11,12] have proposed a new
model, valid in the case of a lm squeezed periodically between
two circular surfaces and they carried out an experimental
validation. Although the model considers the surface tension,
differences are observed between the predicted and measured
values of the duration and the maximum size of the rupture
zone.
To considerer the lm rupture, G umbel [13] neglected solving
the equation of Reynolds pressures below atmospheric pressure
(ambient). In doing so, he introduced a discontinuity in the ow
(violation of a principle of masse conservation). To overcome this
deciency and reconcile the numerical predictions and the
experimental observations, the model of Swift [14] and Stieber
[15] (known also as Reynolds model) requires that the pressure
and its gradient be zero at the boundary liquid/vapour. When
boundaries of rupture and reformation are in motion as it is in the
dynamically loaded journal bearing, the use of previous models
leads to erroneous predictions, even unrealistic, and to a mass
conservation principle violation.
To simulate these dynamic rupture zones, Jakobsson and
Floberg [16] and Olsson [17] were at the origin of a theory that
bears their name (JFO theory) which ensures the ow continuity.
However, its application to the case of moderately to heavily
loaded bearings requires extremely complex programming tasks.
Elrod and Adams [18] have developed a resolution scheme that
mimics the JFO theory and evades the complexity of program-
ming required for its implementation. Elrod [19] made changes
and proposed them as an ingenious algorithm that became
universal a few years later. Elrod applied his algorithm to the
study of a
static hydrodynamic bearing supplied by the circumference; the
results (extent of the rupture zone, load-carrying capacity, y)
obtained compare favourably with experimental results of
Lundholm [20].
The next developments focused primarily on the implementa-
tion of efcient and fast numerical methods that can implement
the Elrod algorithm to a myriad of congurations taking into
account the dynamic loading (for example, see [2129]). In 1992,
Payvart and Salant [30] proposed a new version of the Elrod
algorithm that represents the most successful improvement.
Hajjam and Bonneau [31] have adopted it and associated it with
a nite elements discretization to analyze the elasthohydrody-
namic (EHD) behaviour of lip seals destined to a dynamically
loaded rotating shaft. In addition to the models mentioned,
several authors have tried to suggest imitating sometimes
one of the models mentioned above a new model to study the
rupture of the lm. Among these authors, Bayada et al. [32]
proposed a new algorithm based on variation inequalities and
apply it to the seals using a FE formulation. They take note of 4%
difference between the inow and outow. Yu and Keith [33]
have combined the two conditions of JFO to an integral equation,
and have associated it with a resolution by boundary elements
and then applied it to piston rings. Finally, Bonneau et al. [34]
proposed a procedure that conserved the mass of lubricant (ow
continuity) based on a modied version of the Murthys algo-
rithm. This procedure associated to EF formulation was applied to
the EHD study of a connecting rod bearing.
Our study aims at validating the modied version of the Elrod
model in the context of a uid lm periodically squeezed. This to
determine the model and the numeric method able to predict all
the hydrodynamic characteristics of a thin lubricant lm sub-
jected to a periodic squeezing between conforming surfaces. This
study also illustrates the lubricant lm behaviour during an
inversion phase of the applied dynamic load and rapid speeds
change like those generated in the automobile engines crank-
shaft and connecting rods bearings or SFD. It contributes to the
mastering of the performances of this type of dispositive.
2. Formulation of the problem
For the numerical study of lubricant lm behaviour subject to
periodic loading, we will consider two plates separated by a thin
uid lm, as shown in Fig. 1. The top plate is oscillating while the
bottom plate is stationary. It is considered also an orthogonal
reference system, with the origin O, the axes Ox and Oz located on
the bottom plate surface.
The lm thickness, measured in the direction of Oy axis, is a
function of two spatial coordinates and time:
h hx,z,t 1
Considering a thin oil lm squeezed between two square and
compliant two plates constantly parallel submerged in a lubricant
bath. The top plate is oscillating harmonically along (y) while the
bottom plate is stationary. The lm thickness expression in the
direction (Oy) is
ht h
0
h
1
cos2pft 2
where h
0
is the average lm thickness; h
1
(h
1
oh
0
) and f are the
oscillations amplitude and frequency (pulse).
During the top plate approach phase (dh/dto0, positive
squeeze), the pressure of the lm rises and the liquid is then
pushed outwards. The created hydrodynamic load-carrying capa-
city is a function of time. During the pulling-up phase (dh/dt40,
negative squeeze), the lm pressure can drop to values lower
than the ambient pressure, thus leading in some condition to the
rupture.
x
y
Oscillating plate
Fixed plate
O
h(t)
Fluid film
Fig. 1. Thin uid lm squeezed between two parallel solid plates.
K. Zarbane et al. / Tribology International 44 (2011) 16591667 1660
The Reynolds equation that controls the pressure generation in
the uid lm gap is
@
@x
rh
3
m
@p
@x
_ _

@
@z
rh
3
m
@p
@z
_ _
12rn12h
@r
@t
3
where p is lm hydrodynamic pressure, r and m are lubricant
density and dynamic viscosity and v
@h
@t
represents the lm
squeezing/pulling up velocity.
When cavitation occurs, the uid lm domain is divided into
two sub-domains: the full lm region (the active area) and the
rupture region (the inactive area). In active areas, the pressure
generated opposes the applied load. In inactive areas, the pressure
is considered to be equal to the cavitation pressure P
cav
and there
will be mass conservation of lubricant (continuity ow). The Eq. (3)
changes as the Poiseuille ow, induced by pressure, disappears in
this later area. Thus, we have
@rh
@t
0 4
2.1. The universal Elrods cavitation model
In 1981, Elrod [19] gives a unied governing equation for both
regions using the denition of the bulk modulus b
b r
@p
@r
5
In order to work in terms of density, a dimensionless density
variable y is introduced.
This variable has two interpretations. In active zones, y is the
ratio between the instantaneous density of the liquid and the
density of the liquid at the rupture pressure. In other words
y
r
r
c
6
where r
c
is the density of the lubricant (mixture oil/gas) at the
rupture pressure, which is considered constant.
In inactive areas, y denes the fraction of the liquid lm by the
total volume
y V
liquid
=V
total
7
Considering the density at P
cav
as a reference, y is always equal
or greater than to 1 (yZ1) in the active zones.
In inactive zones, it is strictly less than 1 (yo1). In this area,
(1y) is the fraction of empty (air).
The bulk modulus denition becomes in this case
b y
@p
@y
8
By a direct integration, the pressure-density relation (8) is
obtained
p p
cav
gblny 9
g is a switch function
g
1 full film region, yZ1
0 cavitated film region, yo1
_
10
The cavitation pressure P
cav
is constant as a result of the switch
function assumption.
By introducing the dimensionless density term and after
simplication, the Eq. (3) becomes
@
@x
g
bh
3
12m
@y
@x
_ _

@
@z
g
bh
3
12m
@y
@z
_ _

@yh
@t
11
For the derivative of g according to x, we can write
g
@y
@x
g
@y1
@x

@gy1
@x
y1
@g
@x
12
or
y1
@g
@x
0
So we have
g
@y
@x

@gy1
@x
13
Similarly, we can write in the z direction
g
@y
@z

@gy1
@z
14
By considering (13) and (14), the equation that governs the
ow of a uid lm subjected to a squeezing is
h
3
b
12m
@
@x
@gy1
@x
_ _

@
@z
@gy1
@z
_ _ _ _

@yh
@t
Hence
h
3
b
12m
@
2
gy1
@x
2

@
2
gy1
@z
2
_ _

@yh
@t
15
In the active zones (g1 because yZ1), the solving Eq. (15)
determines the eld of y which, through Eq. (10), the pressure
eld within the lm can be computed. In the inactive area, g is
cancelled (because y o1). Therefore, the ow in the x and z
directions disappear in these areas. Eq. (15) is reduced to:
@yh
@t
0 16
The lm thickness given by the Eq. (2) is normalised using the
average lm thickness lm h
0
and the dimensionless time T.
H 1ecos2pT 17
where H
h
h
0
, T f t, e
h1
h
0
.
with H, T and e denote the dimensionless lm thickness, time
and oscillations amplitude, respectively,
The Eq. (15) can be normalised into dimensionless form,
CX
@
2
gy1
@X
2
_ _
CZ
@
2
gy1
@Z
2
_ _

CT
H
3
@yH
@T
18
where X
x
lx
, Z
z
lz
, CX
1
lx
2
, CZ
1
lz
2
and CT
12mf
bh
2
0
.
2.2. The modied Elrods cavitation model
In 1993, Payvar and Salant [30] suggested an improved version
of the Elrod algorithm. This version uses also one single variable for
both regions and one single form for the governing equations in
both regions. This formulation is not only an elegant approach for
the modelling of the ow in cavitated lms, but it also simplies
the numerical solution because it allows the use of a single
numerical method for both regions. This modied form of the
Elrods model uses the concept of remplishment (lling up) r as
r r
c
h=r 19
It uses also a universal variable D and a step function F (or
switch function). Thus, the Eq. (3) that controls the pressure
generation in the both active and inactive zones becomes
F
@
@x
h
3
12m
@D
@x
_ _

@
@z
h
3
12m
@D
@z
_ _ _ _ _ _

@h
@t
1F
@D
@t
20
In active areas, we have
Dp
F 1
_
21
Considering the rupture pressure (cavitation) as a reference,
we have D greater than zero (D40) in the active zones.
K. Zarbane et al. / Tribology International 44 (2011) 16591667 1661
In inactive areas, we have
Drh
F 0
_
22
The density of the mixture in the inactive areas is always
strictly less than r. Thus, we have Do0. For every point of the
lubricant lm, the compatibility between the values of D and the
supposed state (active or inactive) lubricant lm must be veried.
By using the same dimensionless parameters as above, the
expression (20) becomes
h
3
0
H
3
12m
1
lx
2
@
2
FD
@X
2
_ _

1
lz
2
@
2
FD
@Z
2
_ _ _ _
f h
0
@H
@T

@D
@T

@FD
@T
_ _
23
When we establish CX
1
lx
2
, CZ
1
lz
2
, CT
12mf
h
3
0
and CTH
12mf
h
2
0
.
The Eq. (23) becomes
CX
@
2
FD
@X
2
_ _
CZ
@
2
FD
@Z
2
_ _

1
H
3
CTH
@H
@T
CT
@D
@T

@FD
@T
_ _ _ _
24
After the discretization of the Eqs. (18) and (24) by the
Alternating Direction Implicit (ADI) method, the system of equa-
tions obtained is successively solved by the over-relaxed iterative
Gauss Seidel method. Two codes in Matlab 3.5 are then developed
(for more details, see the appendix). The Eq. (24) is also dis-
cretized by the nite element method (FEM).
2.3. The nite element formulation
In 2001, Bonneau and Hajjam [10] and, later in 2007, Hajjam
and Bonneau [31] published a FE algorithm based on a Galerkin
weak formulation. This algorithm uses the JFO model to deter-
mine with great precision the extent of active and inactive zones
in a lubricated contact even under severe operating conditions.
It has been validated by being compared to international litera-
ture results.
We have adapted this algorithm to our case. Below we exhibit
a few basic elements of the developments presented by the
authors. For the discretization of the Eq. (20) by the FEM, consider
the functional
ED
_
O
F
h
3
12m
@W
@x
@D
@x

@W
@y
@D
@y
_ _
W
@h
@t
_ _ _ _
dO

@
@t
_
O
1FWDdO 25
where W is a differentiable function.
The location of the different zones is obtained by looking for
the D function that simultaneously satises the boundary condi-
tions on the outside border @O of the lm and E(D)0.
The chosen interpolation functions, linear or quadratic
depending on the case, allow the geometric variables and the
different parameters to be interpolated. The code in FE is devel-
oped in FORTRAN.
2.4. The initial and boundary conditions
As the free surface of the lubricated contact is exposed to the
atmosphere, the initial pressure and the one at the edges of the
contact is the ambient pressure (P
amb
). We have
px,z,0 P
amb
26
and
p
boundary
p

2
,z,t
_ _
p

2
,z,t
_ _
p x,

2
,t
_ _
p x,

2
,t
_ _
P
amb
27
3. Results and discussions
The total dynamics load-carrying capacity of the lm is a
function of time. It is calculated by numerical integration of the
pressure eld throughout the area of lubricated contact. The
temporal evolution of the dimensionless lm load-carrying capa-
city was computed by
WT
_
1
0
_
1
0
P1dXdZ 28
The oil lm load-carrying capacity W predictions of the three
numerical codes developed [35] have been compared. For the
comparison, we consider a 10W40 motor oil and at square plates
the lengths of which are equal to 50 mm. The comparison of the
three codes is made by studying the temporal evolution of the
load-carrying capacity W and examining the effect of the varia-
tion in average lm thickness and the oscillations frequency on its
extreme. Before resorting to this comparison, we have deter-
mined the mesh density and the time discretization of most
appropriate to each code for ensuring the convergence and better
managing the rupture and reformation of the lm.
The Fig. 2 shows the variation of the load-carrying capacity
extreme predicted in a plan/plan contact according to the dis-
cretization of time for four discretization of space: 1010,
1414, 2020 and 3030. The relative error tolerated is 10
5
.
We have noticed that the predictions of the FD code based on
the classic formulation of the Elrod algorithm depend strongly on
the value of the lubricant oil bulk modulus used. Using a realistic
value of the lubricant bulk modulus b (1.5 GPa) render a system of
algebraic equations too stiff for accurate solutions since small
variations in density are required to produce very large changes in
pressure in the full lm zone. Thus, the numerical model
is plagued with round-off errors. To avoid this accuracy and
convergence problem, we have used an articial low value of
the bulk modulus, orders of magnitude smaller than the physical
value. By doing tests on some classical analytic studies, the value
of the compressibility that we have adopted is equals to
1.510
7
Pa. This choice was validated further by the results
given by other codes that circumvent the compressibility.
When the number of time steps is greater than or equal to
2000, the graphs above show that the three codes converge
towards a stable solution. The difference between the positive
extreme of load-carrying capacity predicted by the three codes is
also constant and reaches its minimum value when the number of
Table 1
The codes results obtained with a mesh size of (2020) and a number of time
step equal to 6000.
15 HZ 20 HZ 25 HZ 30 HZ
FD_C W
max
85.45 113.97 No convergence
W
min
85.25 113.61
Time 2 mn 2 mn 35 s
FD_R W
max
81.714 108.952 No convergence
W
min
81.713 -108.976
Time 3 mn 25 s 9 mn 15 s
FE_R W
max
85.53 114 143.25 171.32
W
min
85.66 114.21 131.83 142.83
Time 4 mn 4 mn 15 s 4 mn 45 s 5 mn
FD_C: Finite Difference_Compressibility, FD_R: Finite Difference_Remplishment,
FE_R: Finite Element_Remplishment.
K. Zarbane et al. / Tribology International 44 (2011) 16591667 1662
time steps is equal to 6000 and the discretization of the space is
equal to (3030). These time discretization and mesh densities
are used to examine the convergence time and the ability of each
code to manage the rupture and reformation of the lm produced
at frequencies high enough. The target is to nd the best
compromise between a reasonable computing time and a satis-
factory accuracy.
The Table 1 summarises the results obtained by the three
codes at 15, 20, 25 and 30 Hz. For frequencies strictly above
20 Hz, a number of time steps equal to 6000 and a mesh density
of (3030) or (2020), the two codes in FD do not converge.
This table also shows that, unlike the two codes in nite
differences, the FE code seems robust and converges for all tested
frequencies. To examine the convergence of FD codes, we have
examined a grid of (1414) and a time steps number of 6000.
The results obtained are summarised in Table 2.
This table shows that the rst code in FD (compressibility)
converges only for frequencies less than or equal to 20 Hz. This
code cannot handle the lm rupture that manifests itself at levels
frequency high enough. Thus, only the two codes that use the
concept of remplishment are selected to following the study.
Table 2
The codes results obtained with a mesh size of (1414) and a number of time
step equal to 6000.
15 HZ 20 HZ 25 HZ 30 HZ
FD_C W
max
84.76 113.0 No convergence
W
min
84.56 112.7
Time 1 mn 10 s 1 mn 15 s
FD_R W
max
78.24 104.326 130.41 156.5
W
min
78.24 104.33 126.0 138.9
Time 1 mn 30 s 3 mn 13 s 7 mn 8 s 13 mn
FE_R W
max
85.577 114.1 132.124 171.41
W
min
85.705 114.27 142.84 142.81
Time 1 mn 15 s 1 mn 15 s 1 mn 10 s 1 mn 12 s
Fig. 2. Variation of extreme of the load-carrying capacity according to the grid density and the time discretization for h
0
0.8 mm, h
1
0.4 mm, f 1 Hz and m158 mPa s.
(a) 1010, (b) 1414, (c) 2020 and (d) 3030.
K. Zarbane et al. / Tribology International 44 (2011) 16591667 1663
By comparing the convergence time of these last two codes, we
nd that the FE code converges quite rapidly.
Though the latter two codes are able to predict the extreme of
the load-carrying capacity generated by the lubricant lm, we felt
it necessary to examine their ability to predict correctly the
rupture and reformation of the lm.
After several tests, it appears that the code EF has manages
better the rupture and reformation of the lm with a grid of
(3030) and a number of time steps of 1000. Similarly, the FD
code requires a space discretization of 1414, and a number of
time steps equal to 6000.
In conclusion, the three codes developed are suitable for the
study of behaviour before the rupture of a lm submitted to a
periodic squeezing. For frequencies less than or equal to 20 Hz,
the two codes (FD and FE) based on the remplishment notion only
converge. In order to optimise the time of computing and to
ensure satisfactory accuracy, we have adopted for the FD code a
grid of 1414 and a number of time steps equal to 6000. As for
the FE code, a mesh density of 3030 and a number of steps of
1000 were selected.
3.1. The temporal evolution of the load-carrying capacity
The temporal evolution of the load-carrying capacity predicted
by the three numerical codes before the lm rupture during two
periods of evolution of the lm thickness is shown in Fig. 3.
Each period contains a squeeze phase and a pulling-up phase.
In squeeze phase, the lm generates a positive load-carrying
capacity which characterizes its resistance to expulsion out of
contact. We note a phase shift between the positive extremum of
the load-carrying capacity predicted by the three codes and the
minimum lm thickness. This phase shift reveals a delay in the
reaction of the lubricant lm. During pulling-up phase, the lm
generates a negative load-carrying capacity which represents its
resistance to pulling. A minute examination of the graphs reveals
that the load-carrying capacity predicted by the FE code has a
positive extreme higher than its equivalent negative while the
one obtained by the nite differences discretization is symme-
trical. Apart from a gap between the extremums of the load-
carrying capacity predicted, the three codes are very similar. The
difference is due to the mesh density and the time discretization
adopted for the two formulations.
To study the evolution of these differences and to compare the
three codes, we have examined the effects of frequency f, the
average lm thickness h
0
on the lm load-carrying capacity.
3.2. The frequency effect
Fig. 4 shows the effect of varying the oscillations frequency f
on the load-carrying capacity calculated by the three numerical
codes for h
0
0.8 mm, h
1
0.4 mm and m148 mPa s.
This gure shows that the lm load-carrying capacity is
proportional to the oscillations frequency. The FE code results
are in perfect agreement with those drawn from the nite
differences discretization that assumes the lm compressibility.
However, a difference is observed with the load-carrying capacity
predicted by the FD code that incorporates the remplishment
concept. This difference is accentuated when the oscillation
frequency increases. Again, the differences are due to the dis-
cretization difference of the space and the time adopted for the
two formulations.
3.3. The average lm thickness effect
Fig. 5 shows the effect of the average thickness (h
0
) variation
on the load-carrying capacity of a lm subject to oscillations of
0.93 Hz.
According to these graphs, the predicted load-carrying capa-
city is inversely proportional to the average lm thickness h
0
. The
effect of h
0
variation on the predicted load-carrying becomes
signicant when h
0
is less than 0.55 mm.
Furthermore, a discrepancy is noticed between the two
extremes of the load-carrying capacity calculated by the FE code
and the FD one without compressibility during the negative
Fig. 3. Temporal load-carrying capacity W(t) and lm thickness h(t) in plan/plan
contact for f 0.93 Hz, h
1
0.33 mm, h
0
0.5 mm and m158 mPa s.
Fig. 4. The effect of frequency variation on the extreme of the calculated load-
carrying capacity W. (a) Negative squeeze and (b) positive squeeze.
K. Zarbane et al. / Tribology International 44 (2011) 16591667 1664
squeeze phase. Reducing the average lm thickness below
0.45 mm causes an increase in the discrepancy. However, the
results obtained by the three methods are very close to one
another.
When examining the effect of frequency f and the average lm
thickness h
0
on the load-carrying capacity, the FD code, which
presumes the lm compressibility, presents some convergence
problems especially when frequency is large and the average lm
thickness is low. This is due to the compressibility modulus.
Indeed, the code convergence requires the use of articial com-
pressibility modules to solve the equations systems. These limita-
tions make the code unsuitable to study the lm rupture effect
which occurs at high frequencies. Therefore, this code has been
abandoned, while the other two were kept to conduct this study.
3.4. The lm ruptures effect
To simulate the lm rupture, larger oscillation frequencies are
tested (420 Hz). For example, a thin oil lm the h
0
0.8 mm and
m158 mPa s of which subjected to an oscillation amplitude
h
1
0.4 mm is ruptured when the frequency is greater than or
equal to 25 Hz. In Figs. 6 and 7, we have presented the temporal
evolution of ruptured lm load-carrying capacity at 25 and 30 Hz,
respectively. These gures also show the oscillation frequency
impact on the ruptured lm load-carrying capacity.
Regardless of the formulation used, this load-carrying capacity
has a negative extreme smaller in absolute value than its positive
counterpart. This asymmetry is larger for the nite element
code. We have also notied a discrepancy between the two
load-carrying capacity curves. This difference is greater at the
extremes.
By comparing the extreme of lm load-carrying capacity
curves obtained at 30 Hz to those calculated at 25 Hz, we found
that:
The differences between positive and negative extremes cal-
culated by the two codes (EF and ADI) are almost identical.
Increasing the frequency of oscillation causes an increase in
the positive extreme of the lm load-carrying capacity while
the negative extreme remains more or less constant: the load-
carrying capacity positive extremes of the ruptured lm during
squeeze phase is proportional to the frequency like during
without-rupture mode (Fig. 3b). During pulling-up phase, the
pressure can be below the threshold pressure P
cav
(cavitation
pressure). This clearly limits the negative extremes of the load-
carrying capacity that cannot be below a limit value.
Figs. 8 and 9 show the lm pressure and the remplishment
eld temporal evolution at 25 and 30 Hz. T is the dimensionless
time. These gures conrm the lm rupture during the lm
negative squeeze phase (TZ0.6).
In Fig. 10, we have presented the variations in the lm
pressure and the remplishment eld evolution obtained at
100 Hz. Then comparing the spatio-temporal evolution of the
lm rupture obtained in the contact plan/plan at 25, 30 and
100 Hz, we nd that the rupture zone and its duration increase
with the oscillations frequency.
Fig. 7. W temporal evolution for h
0
0.8 mm, h
1
0.4 mm and f 30 Hz.
Fig. 6. W temporal evolution for h
0
0.8 mm, h
1
0.4 mm and f 25 Hz.
Fig. 5. The effect of variation of the average lm thickness on the extreme of
calculated load-carrying capacity W for f 0.93 Hz. (a) Negative squeeze and
(b) positive squeeze.
K. Zarbane et al. / Tribology International 44 (2011) 16591667 1665
T=0.4 6 . 0 = T 7 . 0 = T
PRESSURE
REMPLISHMENT
Fig. 8. The lm pressure and remplishment eld evolution in a plan/plan contact for h
0
0.8 mm, f 25 Hz, h
1
0.4 mm and m158 mPa s.
T=0.4 6 . 0 = T 7 . 0 = T
PRESSURE
REMPLISHMENT
Fig. 9. The lm pressure and remplishment eld evolution in a plan/plan contact for h
0
0.8 mm, f 30 Hz, h
1
0.4 mm and m148 mPa s.
Fig. 10. The lm pressure and the remplishment eld evolution in a plan/plan contact for h
0
0.8 mm, f 100 Hz, h
1
0.4 mm and m158 mPa s.
K. Zarbane et al. / Tribology International 44 (2011) 16591667 1666
4. Conclusion
This study focuses on the behaviour of the lm when it is
periodically squeezed between two plane surfaces. Two versions
of the Elrod algorithm have been adopted. The rst version
involves the compressibility of the lubricant. The second one
introduces the concept of remplishment. The equations from
these two versions are discretized by the nite differences
method and the nite elements method. The three code results
are similar on the impact of the average lm thickness h
0
, the
frequency f of oscillations on the hydrodynamic load-carrying
capacity of oil lm (continuous). Indeed, they show that this load-
carrying capacity is proportional to the frequency and inversely
with the average lm thickness. The numerical simulation of the
rupture highlights the fact that the ruptured lm hydrodynamic
load-carrying capacity asymmetry increases when the frequency
rise. The examination of the pressure and the remplishment elds
in this contact type shows that the rupture zone exhibits a square
section and its extent and duration increase when the frequency
of oscillations increases.
The study highlighted the difculties encountered by the FD
code which assumes the lm compressibility particularly when
the frequency is high and/or the lm average thickness is weak.
These limitations make it inappropriate to simulate the rupture
and reformation of the lm. Therefore, two codes that use the
concept of remplishment for circumvents the inclusion of the
compressibility of the lubricant have been proposed.
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