24 COMSOL NEWS A good example of how complex 21 st century engineering simulation problems are is elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL). EHL describes the coupling between the deformations of two mating surfaces, such as in bearings and gears, and the hydrodynamics leading to the separation of both surfaces. If thermal effects are considered, the problem is referred to as thermal EHL (TEHL). The lubricant film thickness is usually in the order of microns or below, but sufficient to provide low friction and wear. Detailed understanding of the mechanisms of TEHL helps to improve the power density, efficiency, and noise-vibration-harshness (NVH) behavior of drive systems. The key is the design of the lubricated contacts of machine elements to treat the lubricant

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