Parametric Analysis of Rolling–Sliding Line Contacts Under Boundary and Near Boundary Lubrication Conditions

This article reports a parametric analysis of rolling–sliding line contacts in boundary and near-boundary lubrication with relevance to the contacts in rotorcraft drive systems in loss of lubrication. A recently developed mathematical model for boundary lubrication with friction, temperature, and tribochemistry is used in the analysis. The parameters studied include radius of the line contact, surface hardness, boundary film shear strength, fluid–solid load sharing, system bulk temperature, load, speed, and slide-to-roll ratio. The contact condition is measured by the temperature and friction power intensity along with the boundary film integrity and mode of deformation. The results of the analysis led to a number of suggestions and elaborations listed in the Conclusion regarding various design considerations of the contacts in rotorcraft drive systems against loss of lubrication.