The contact-hydrodynamic problem of lubrication theory for elastic bodies with cracks (Q1069746)

A mechanical model of lubricating solid bodies weakened by cracks is proposed. The model can be used to explain the reason for fatigue-induced crumbling of the surfaces. The presence of boundary and subsurface cracks is taken into account, and the interaction of the lubricant with elastic bodies within the cavities of boundary cracks is regarded as the most interesting aspect of the problem. Conditions are obtained characterizing the actual behaviour of the lubricant within the crack cavities, taking into account the pressure rise in the closed cavities completely filled with the lubricant and the possible onset of cavitation. The problem is reduced to a system of nonlinear integrodifferential and linear integral equations with additional conditions in the form of equations and inequalities. The method of regular perturbations is used to study the state of weakly loaded elastohydrodynamic contact. In this case the problem is reduced to a sequence of purely hydrodynamic boundary value problems for the nonlinear or linear ordinary differential equations, and elastic problems for the linear integral equations with one-sided constraints.