Theory 161/Lubricants/Threshold lens
Separation Needs a Speed Threshold
The claim
Full film separation requires a speed above a threshold, below which asperity contact and wear occur.
01Mechanism
Hydrodynamic pressure must exceed the load; the threshold marks the transition from boundary to full-film lubrication.
02Prediction
Wear should fall sharply above a speed threshold.
03Refutation
Wear falling smoothly with speed would remove the transition.