7. Theoretical modeling

Theoretical modeling of all the phenomena involved in the mixed lubrication mechanism is difficult to achieve. Indeed, given the physical basis of mixed lubrication, it is essential to have a relevant description of the microgeometry. Secondly, this description needs to be coupled with a detailed analysis of lubrication, which is not an easy task in itself, since conventional lubrication analyses are traditionally based on the assumption of smooth surfaces. Finally, direct contact must be taken into account at the most prominent asperities.

As a result, to date there is no complete model of mixed lubrication, but only a wide variety of partial models which combine certain aspects of mixed lubrication. These different models differ in the nature of the elements that are taken into account (or those that are neglected).

In this section, rather...