Non-dimensional similarity groups and analytically solvable proximity equations can be used to estimate integral fluid film parameters of elastohydrodynamically lubricated (EHL) contacts. In this contribution, we demonstrate that machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) approaches (support vector machines, Gaussian process regressions, and artificial neural networks) can predict relevant film parameters more efficiently and with higher accuracy and flexibility compared to sophisticated EHL simulations and analytically solvable proximity equations, respectively. For this purpose, we use data from EHL simulations based upon the full-system finite element (FE) solution and a Latin hypercube sampling. We verify that the original input data are required to train ML approaches to achieve coefficients of determination above 0.99. It is revealed that the architecture of artificial neural networks (neurons per layer and number of hidden layers) and activation functions influence the prediction accuracy. The impact of the number of training data is exemplified, and recommendations for a minimum database size are given. We ultimately demonstrate that artificial neural networks can predict the locally-resolved film thickness values over the contact domain 25-times faster than FE-based EHL simulations (R² values above 0.999). We assume that this will boost the use of ML approaches to predict EHL parameters and traction losses in multibody system dynamics simulations.

Despite numerous experimental and theoretical studies reported in the literature, surface micro-texturing to control friction and wear in lubricated tribo-contacts is still in the trial-and-error phase. The tribological behaviour and advantageous micro-texture geometries and arrangements largely depend on the contact type and the operating conditions. Industrial scale implementation is hampered by the complexity of numerical approaches. This substantiates the urgent need to numerically design and optimize micro-textures for specific conditions. Since these aspects have not been covered by other review articles yet, we aim at summarizing the existing state-of–the art regarding optimization strategies for micro-textures applied in hydrodynamically and elastohydrodynamically lubricated contacts. Our analysis demonstrates the great potential of optimization strategies to further tailor micro-textures with the overall aim to reduce friction and wear, thus contributing toward an improved energy efficiency and sustainability.