Modeling thermal-visco-elastohydrodynamic lubrication (TVEHL) interfaces of polymer-based materials

This paper reports a novel thermal-visco-elasohydrodynamic lubrication (TVEHL) model for analyzing the lubrication behavior of the interface formed by an elastic sphere and a polymer half-space. The temperature-dependent viscoelastic displacement of the polymer surface is calculated through the elastic-viscoelastic correspondence theory and frequency-temperature superposition. The discrete convolution and fast Fourier transform (DC-FFT) algorithm is used for efficient solution computation. The model is verified by comparing results from its degenerated forms with those from thermal-viscoelastic (TVE) contact and thermal-elastohydrodynamic lubrication (TEHL) theories. The results from the current model with and without considering temperature effect are also compared. The new TVEHL model is explored to study the viscoelastic material property, entraining speed, sliding-to-rolling ratio, and the coupled thermal-viscoelasticity effects. •A novel thermal-visco-elastohydrodynamic lubrication (TVEHL) model is developed.•The model is based on the frequency-temperature superposition and discrete convolution and fast Fourier transform method.•The model integrates the fluid heating, viscoelastic dissipation, and temperature-dependent material property.•The material property, surface speed, sliding-to-rolling ratio, and coupled thermal-viscoelasticity effects are explored.