Effects of thermally induced inhomogeneous shear and surface thermal boundary conditions on the shear stress in sliding elastohydrodynamic contacts

Numerous research work has shown that signifi cant thermally induced cross-fi lm inhomogeneous shear or thermal shear localisation may be developed in sliding elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) contacts with pronounced consequences. This paper uses the theoretical framework established in previous research to further analyse the effects of the shear localisation on the lubricant shear stress and thus the EHL traction. Results obtained suggest that the shear localisation signifi cantly accelerates the thermally induced reduction of the shear stress in sliding EHL contacts. The study also shows dramatic reduction of the shear stress in EHL contacts with one-insolated surface, which is signifi cantly attributed to the more intensifi ed thermal shear localisation near the insolated surface. The practical signifi cance of the dramatic shear stress reduction is discussed.