Abstract:
MODELING RHEOLOGY OF NON‐NEWTONIAN LUBRICANTS IN PISTON SKIRT
EHL DURING INITIAL ENGINE START UP CONDITIONS
At global level, automobile engine manufacturers ensure that piston skirts are sufficiently
lubricated during normal engine operation to prevent adhesive wear of skirt and cylinder liner.
This is possible as Elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) between piston skirt and cylinder
liner does not allow actual metal to metal contact. At the time of Engine start up, absence of
EHL film between piston skirt and cylinder liner results in dry contact followed by sequential
formation of boundary, mixed and then EHL films, while the Engine attains normal operating
conditions after warm up. Advancements in engine design have necessitated use of synthetic,
multigrade Non-Newtonian engine lubricants to reduce engine friction and wear and enhance its
operational life. Multiple blends of Non-Newtonian engine lubricants cater for various aspects
of engine lubrication requirements during normal operation. However their peculiar rule to
minimize adhesive wear of piston skirt and liner surfaces during engine start up conditions
under ideal conditions have yet to be properly modeled and thoroughly investigated. This calls
for proper investigative research to model rheological behavior of non-Newtonian engine
lubricants with particular focus on initial engine start up conditions. This research will
mathematically model and simulate transient EHL phenomenon of piston skirts during engine
start up conditions while using viscoelastic Maxwell type of Non-Newtonian engine oil as
lubricant. Comparative analysis and parametric studies of Newtonian and Non-Newtonian
lubricants rheology and effects on EHL of piston skirt during engine initial start up conditions
are also part of this research work.
