Influence of temperature on cam-tappet lubrication in an internal combustion engine

Abstract

The transient thermo-elastohydrodynamic (TEHL) lubrication simulation and isothermal elastohydrodynamic (EHL) simulation were performed on the exhausting cam-tappet friction pair of an internal combustion engine. Although by employing the two models the center pressure, the thickness of the lubricant film and friction coefficient obtained were similar in the changing trend during a rotating cycle, the parameters make a great difference, especially for the thickness of the lubricant film; the TEHL was four times thicker than the EHL. These results show that the temperature should not be neglected in the study of the lubrication of cam-tappet pairs.