Homogenization is a formal mathematical two-scale averaging process that can be applied to roughness problems and can replace previous heuristic averaging procedures, which have sometimes led to ambiguous results. This procedure was previously mathematically developed and applied to compressible flow problems. The purpose of this paper is the development of a special form of Reynolds equation for such homogenized conditions applied to the incompressible Newtonian case. The equation allows the calculation of the operating characteristics of a contact by taking into account the local geometry of surfaces while making a substantial improvement in computing time. The method allows for the study of rough surfaces, but requires considerably fewer calculated points than for traditional deterministic discretization methods.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.