Abstract
The effect of surface texture on EHL point contact is studied numerically by using the multigrid method. Numerical simulations have been performed for waviness and random roughness with three different orientations, transverse, oblique and longitudinal. Results reveal a strong domination of unidirectional Couette flow in the EHL conjunction. The geometrical variations at inlet of the contact are transported downstream throughout the EHL conjunction. As a consequence, the oblique surface roughness striations are largely distorted, forming nearly longitudinal wavy passages. Results show that the oblique roughness induces local three dimensional EHL pressure fluctuations. The maximum pressure is higher than that of the transverse roughness. For sinusoidal waviness, oblique orientation gives the smallest minimum film thickness as compared with those of longitudinal and transverse waviness.