A theoretical analysis of inlet zone of an Elastohydrodynamically lubricated line contact has been carried out for fully flooded rolling traction and film thickness for isothermal conditions at high load (PH = 0.5 to 2.5 GPa) and high rolling speeds (5 to 50 m/s). The coupled solution of Reynolds’ equation, film shape, density-pressure relation and viscosity- pressure equation, has been done by Finite Difference Method (FDM). The effects of lubricant rheology on film thickness and rolling traction of the concentrated line contact have been investigated by incorporating Newtonian (Barus and Roelands’ model) and non-Newtonian (power-law) viscosity models. The results of the present study have been compared with the published work of Adams & Hirst (1973) and Goksem & Hargreaves (1978) for the rolling traction and the minimum film thickness respectively. The effects of power law exponents on the minimum film thickness and the rolling traction have been also investigated. The results obtained demonstrate the marginal deviation in lubricant rheology from Newtonian to non- Newtonian in the inlet zone of EHL line contacts.

Key words: Rheology, EHD lubrication, Newtonian, Non- Newtonian, Minimum film thickness, Viscosity, Rolling traction.