Viscoelastic effects in lubricated contacts

The effect of viscoelastic layer on pressure, Nm thickness and friction coefficient in lubricated contacts has been investigated. The model consists of two elastic rollers coated with viscoelastic layers and separated by a thin film of lubricant. The results indicate that under low velocity conditions the friction coefficient monotonically reduces to a minimum and then increases as the speed increases. The results also indicate that for low velocities the contact characteristics are dominated by the properties of the viscoelastic layer and the elastic substrate and as the speed increases, the viscoelastic layer effect becomes negligible.