Fatigue Life and Traction Modeling of Continuously Variable Transmissions

A model was developed to study the elastohydrodynamics and contact mechanics of toroidal Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) type contacts. The aim is to predict the fatigue life, traction and efficiency of such contacts with the intention of making optimizations based on design criteria and constraints. A generalized Reynolds equation was developed for isothermal, transient lubrication of elliptical rough contacts with mixed rolling, two-dimensional sliding, and spinning conditions, incorporating any non-Newtonian model, roughness asperity isothermal elastoplastic interactions, and a three-dimensional subsurface stress analysis. The output is in the form of film thickness and traction maps, including contact efficiency, three-dimensional stress fields, and, finally, the predicted fatigue lives of CVT contacts, based on the Ioannides-Harris life model. A parametric study reveals the effect of surface roughness, lubricant bulk temperature, contact ellipticity ratio, slide-roll ratio, and contact load on the fatigue life, traction and contact efficiency of CVTs, and allows for design optimizations based on a compromise between life, traction and efficiency.