An Investigation into Grease Behavior in Thermal EHL Circular Contacts

The behaviors of two lithium lubricating greases were investigated under EHL circular contact through measurements of traction coefficients on a self-made rig in which the contact was continuously fed with fresh grease. The average values of Erying shear stress and shear modulus of the two lithium greases were obtained from traction experimental data using this rig. Based on the Evans-Johnson model and thermal analysis, we calculated the values of shear stress and traction coefficients of the two greases. The results show that the calculated traction coefficients agree fairly well with the measured data.

KEY WORDS:

• Lubricating Grease
• Rheological Parameters
• Traction
• Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication

Presented at the STLE Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 15–19, 2005, Review led by Selda Gunsel