Practical applications of lubrication models in engines

As automobile fuel efficiency has grown in importance over the past few years so the questions concerning friction and wear (durability) in engines have grown in significance. This paper describes practical ways in which lubrication models have been developed and applied to key sub-systems (valve trains, piston assemblies and bearings) in engines to gain insight into the optimisation of overall performance, that is the balance between reducing friction whilst maintaining acceptable durability. The effects of lubricant rheology, hydrodynamic, elastohydrodynamic and boundary conditions on friction and wear will be explored under both steady state and transient conditions and comparisons made with experimental results.