3. Computational model of a fully coupled soft-EHL problem
Two main assumptions are adopted in the present computa- tional model. Firstly, it is assumed that only one of the contacting bodies is deformable, while the other one is rigid. This corre- sponds to a typical situation in which a compliant elastomeric body interacts with a metallic or ceramic body. The large differ- ence of elastic moduli justifies then the rigid-body assumption. A hyperelastic model is adopted to describe material behaviour of the deformable body subjected to finite deformations. Considera- tion of viscoelastic effects is, in principle, possible but is not pursued here.