Analysis of Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication (EHL) Characteristics of Port Plate Pair of a Piston Pump

This article presents a steady-state elastohydrodynamic lubrication model for the contact and sliding interface of an axial piston pump’s port plate pair. The wedge-shaped oil film thickness, pressure, viscosity, and elastic deformation distribution of the port plate pair were investigated by using the finite difference method. The elastohydrodynamic lubrication characteristics for different operating parameters and two materials of the port plate pair were analyzed for comparison. Existing conditions for the EHL were calculated, and variations in leakage and friction coefficients were investigated. The results show that the elastic deformation of the interface greatly influences the oil film’s overall performance, which is related to the material, inlet pressure, velocity, viscosity, and the minimum oil film thickness that determines the EHL. The deformation caused by oil film pressure greatly influences the model leakage and friction coefficient, especially when the deformation is equal to the oil film clearance