Abstract
The numerical procedure to analyze a non-steady 3-dimensional elastohydrodynamic lubrication on the cyclically loaded contact has been newly developed. The procedure was applied on the cam-roller contact of the valve mechanism for the marine diesel engine. Both the pressure distribution and the film thickness between the cam and roller follower were calculated for each time step of the whole cycle. The pressure spike is shown at the outlet of the roller edge and it is getting higher as the external load is increased. The film thicknesses in the result of the non-steady analysis have a tendency to increase compared to those in the result of the analysis with the assumption of steady state. Therefore, the surface roughness of the non-steady contact need not be limited below that of the steady contact of the equivalent operating conditions.