During grinding, a great amount of heat is generated that can cause damage to both the workpiece and the tool. For this reason, most grinding processes take place under flood lubrication with cooling lubricants to reduce friction and improve heat dissipation. However, in addition to the positive effects, an excess of lubricant also leads to reduced cutting engagement and thus reduced process effectiveness. Furthermore, grinding results can vary greatly depending on the cooling lubricant used. This variability makes it necessary to adjust the cooling individually for each application in order to achieve an optimum of quality, efficiency and effectiveness. Up to now, parameter studies based on the principle of "trial and error" have been necessary for this purpose, and their scope of validity is limited to a fixed set of workpiece and process parameters. For a more general and targeted optimization of the process, there is a lack of basic understanding of the exact systemic effects of cooling lubricants on the grinding process and the associated contact mechanical processes in the grinding gap.
In the course of the project, fundamental knowledge is to be generated about the influence of a wide variety of input factors on the performance of lubricated grinding processes. To this end, both microscopic processes at the roughness level, such as the movement and distribution of the lubricant in contact with rough surfaces, and macroscopic effects, such as the dynamic contour adaptation of the contact surfaces, will be investigated. A special focus is placed on the hydrodynamic bearing effect of the lubricant and its influence on the grinding result as well as on the cooling effect and material removal during the process. The investigations are divided into model-based simulation approaches and experimental tests at laboratory and machine level. The findings from the various measurements and simulations will be combined and compared, and initial conclusions drawn about the laws governing the processes in the boundary layer of wet grinding contacts.