Traction and local temperatures measured in an elastohydrodynamic lubrication contact

Traction in highly loaded elastohydrodynamic contacts is of great importance to reduce losses. The calculation of traction in these EHL contacts relies on the rheological models used. In this paper, results from traction experiments, which form an integration over Hertzian contacts with strongly inhomogeneous conditions, are presented. They are compared to data from laboratory measurements with homogeneous conditions. Due to the fact that the integral data do not directly represent local rheological fluid properties, further investigations are presented. Here, thermographic measurements are used to discern the contact temperature locally. Furthermore, a model for the maximum shear stress depending on pressure is proposed and compared to existing models.