A study of squeezing flow

TLDR: In this article, an approximate iterative solution of the continuity and momentum equations is derived for the instantaneous distribution of velocity within the fluid and the reaction on the surfaces of parallel surfaces, and the results obtained should be of interest in connection with the study of the performance of transiently loaded bearings in reciprocating engines.

Abstract: The problem of the squeezing of a film of liquid between two parallel surfaces is considered. Approximate expressions are deduced for the instantaneous distribution of velocity within the fluid and the reaction on the surfaces. These are obtained by an approximate iterative solution of the continuity and momentum equations. The radial pressure distribution in a squeezed film is found to be due partly to the action of viscosity and partly to inertia effects. The latter cause the relationship between the reaction on the surfaces and their relative velocity to be non-linear. This effect is significant for conditions where the Reynolds number based upon the distance between the surfaces and their relative velocity is greater than unity. The results obtained should be of interest in connection with the study of the performance of transiently loaded bearings in reciprocating engines, and a possible application in the field of chemical engineering might arise in connection with the phenomenon of adhesion.