Showing papers on "Lubrication theory published in 2019"

Non-Newtonian fluid–structure interactions: Static response of a microchannel due to internal flow of a power-law fluid

Abstract: We study fluid–structure interactions (FSIs) in a long and shallow microchannel, conveying a non-Newtonian fluid, at steady state The microchannel has a linearly elastic and compliant top wall, while its three other walls are rigid The fluid flowing inside the microchannel has a shear-dependent viscosity described by the power-law rheological model We employ lubrication theory to solve for the flow problem inside the long and shallow microchannel For the structural problem, we employ two plate theories, namely Kirchhoff–Love theory of thin plates and Reissner–Mindlin first-order shear deformation theory The hydrodynamic pressure couples the flow and deformation problem by acting as a distributed load onto the soft top wall Within our perturbative (lubrication theory) approach, we determine the relationship between the flow rate and the pressure gradient, which is a nonlinear first-order ordinary differential equation for the pressure From the solution of this differential equation, all other quantities of interest in non-Newtonian microchannel FSIs follow Through illustrative examples, we show the effect of FSI coupling strength and the plate thickness on the pressure drop across the microchannel Through direct numerical simulation of non-Newtonian microchannel FSIs using commercial computational engineering tools, we benchmark the prediction from our mathematical theory for the flow rate–pressure drop relation and the structural deformation profile of the top wall In doing so, we also establish the limits of applicability of our perturbative theory

Rheological and magnetic effects on a fluid flow in a curved channel with different peristaltic wave profiles

Abstract: Peristalsis is one of the most dynamic phenomena that is significantly applicable to biomedical engineering. Motivated by such fact, the current article deals with the numerical simulation of magnetically induced fluid flow bounded within two curved peristaltic walls. Fluid rheology is approximated by linearly viscoelastic Jeffrey fluid, while five different wave profiles are utilized to capture the peristaltic effects. A constant magnetic field is also applied in the radial direction. The constitutive equations in curvilinear coordinates are reduced under the lubrication theory. The reduced boundary value problem is further solved by MATLAB built-in routine BVP6C. The axial velocity, pressure rise and stream function are numerically obtained in the wave frame. The impacts of different peristaltic wave profiles and several embedded parameters, for example, the dimensionless radius of curvature, magnetic parameter (Hartmann number) and viscoelastic parameter, respectively, on the flow characteristics are shown through graphs and discussed in detail. Boundary layer phenomena are also highlighted for large values of the Hartmann number and the ratio of relaxation to retardation time parameter for different peristaltic waves. A special case of the straight channel is also retrieved from a large curvature parameter. This study provides fruitful information to understand the flow phenomena of blood, foods, nutrients and liquids that pass through non-uniform veins or arteries.

Dynamics of thin liquid films on vertical cylindrical fibres

Abstract: Recent experiments on thin films flowing down a vertical fibre with varying nozzle diameters present a wealth of new dynamics that illustrate the need for more advanced theory. We present a detailed analysis using a full lubrication model that includes slip boundary conditions, nonlinear curvature terms and a film stabilization term. This study brings to focus the presence of a stable liquid layer playing an important role in the full dynamics. We propose a combination of these physical effects to explain the observed velocity and stability of travelling droplets in the experiments and their transition to isolated droplets. This is also supported by stability analysis of the travelling wave solution of the model.

Hydrodynamic mobility reversal of squirmers near flat and curved surfaces

Abstract: Self-propelled particles have been experimentally shown to orbit spherical obstacles and move along surfaces. Here, we theoretically and numerically investigate this behavior for a hydrodynamic squirmer interacting with spherical objects and flat walls using three different methods of approximately solving the Stokes equations: The method of reflections, which is accurate in the far field; lubrication theory, which describes the close-to-contact behavior; and a lattice Boltzmann solver that accurately accounts for near-field flows. The method of reflections predicts three distinct behaviors: orbiting/sliding, scattering, and hovering, with orbiting being favored for lower curvature as in the literature. Surprisingly, it also shows backward orbiting/sliding for sufficiently strong pushers, caused by fluid recirculation in the gap between the squirmer and the obstacle leading to strong forces opposing forward motion. Lubrication theory instead suggests that only hovering is a stable point for the dynamics. We therefore employ lattice Boltzmann to resolve this discrepancy and we qualitatively reproduce the richer far-field predictions. Our results thus provide insight into a possible mechanism of mobility reversal mediated solely through hydrodynamic interactions with a surface.

Dynamics and stability of a power-law film flowing down a slippery slope

Abstract: A power-law fluid flowing down a slippery inclined plane under the action of gravity is deliberated in this research work. A Newtonian layer at a small strain rate is introduced to take care of the divergence of the viscosity at a zero strain rate. A low-dimensional two-equation model is formulated using a weighted-residual approach in terms of two coupled evolution equations for the film thickness h and a local velocity amplitude or the flow rate q within the framework of lubrication theory. Moreover, a long-wave instability is shown in detail. Linear stability analysis of the proposed two-equation model reveals good agreement with the spatial Orr-Sommerfeld analysis. The influence of a wall-slip on the primary instability has been found to be non-trivial. It has the stabilizing effect at larger values of the Reynolds number, whereas at the onset of the instability, the role is destabilizing which may be because of the increase in dynamic wave speed by the wall slip. Competing impressions of shear-thinning/shear-thickening and wall slip velocity on the primary instability are captured. The impact of slip velocity on the traveling-wave solutions is discussed using the bifurcation diagram. An increasing value of the slip shows a significant effect on the traveling wave and free surface amplitude. Slip velocity controls both the kinematic and dynamic waves of the system, and thus, it has the profound passive impact on the instability.A power-law fluid flowing down a slippery inclined plane under the action of gravity is deliberated in this research work. A Newtonian layer at a small strain rate is introduced to take care of the divergence of the viscosity at a zero strain rate. A low-dimensional two-equation model is formulated using a weighted-residual approach in terms of two coupled evolution equations for the film thickness h and a local velocity amplitude or the flow rate q within the framework of lubrication theory. Moreover, a long-wave instability is shown in detail. Linear stability analysis of the proposed two-equation model reveals good agreement with the spatial Orr-Sommerfeld analysis. The influence of a wall-slip on the primary instability has been found to be non-trivial. It has the stabilizing effect at larger values of the Reynolds number, whereas at the onset of the instability, the role is destabilizing which may be because of the increase in dynamic wave speed by the wall slip. Competing impressions of shear-thinni...

Time-dependent analysis of electroosmotic fluid flow in a microchannel

Abstract: The present work models electroosmotic induced fluid flow in a microfluidic device. For theoretical analysis, the geometry of this device is considered as an asymmetric, narrow, wavy channel with charged surface. It is assumed that the length of the channel is finite and the characteristic wavelength is very large compared to the half width of the channel. The flow is assumed to be governed by Navier–Stokes equations augmented with electric body force. A transient two-dimensional flow analysis is presented by employing lubrication theory. Debye–Huckel linearization is adopted to obtain a general solution of Poisson–Boltzmann equation. The flow rate, velocity profile, pressure distribution, and wall shear stress are analyzed as functions of various parameters involved like zeta-potential ratio, Debye–Huckel parameter, etc. It is noted that the fluctuations in pressure and shear stress increase with the increasing zeta-potential ratio when the Helmholtz–Smoluchowski velocity is positive. The streamline pattern and the particle trajectories are analyzed to understand the trapping phenomenon and the retrograde motion. It is observed that the electroosmosis phenomenon drastically modulates the fluid flow in microchannels. Although the asymmetric nature of the wavy channel does not support active particle transport, the applied electric field enhances the particle motion favoring optimal conditions. It is observed that the extreme asymmetry of the wall motility reduces the net flow rate. Further, it is noticed that the asymmetry reduces the amplitudes of the pressure. This model can help toward designing artificial organs based on microfluidic devices which can also be applicable to analyze lumenal flow inside arteries and flow inside intrauterine system, and to implant the embryo at the best location in the uterus for human-assisted reproduction.

Lattice-Boltzmann Simulations of Electrowetting Phenomena

Abstract: When a voltage difference is applied between a conducting liquid and a conducting (solid) electrode, the liquid is observed to spread on the solid. This phenomenon, generally referred to as electrowetting, underpins a number of interfacial phenomena of interest in applications that range from droplet microfluidics to optics. Here, we present a lattice-Boltzmann method that can simulate the coupled hydrodynamics and electrostatics equations of motion of a two-phase fluid as a means to model the electrowetting phenomena. Our method has the advantage of modeling the electrostatic fields within the lattice-Boltzmann algorithm itself, eliminating the need for a hybrid method. We validate our method by reproducing the static equilibrium configuration of a droplet subject to an applied voltage and show that the apparent contact angle of the drop depends on the voltage following the Young-Lippmann equation up to contact angles of ≈50°. At higher voltages, we observe a saturation of the contact angle caused by the competition between electric and capillary stresses, similar to previous experimental observations. We also study the stability of a dielectric film trapped between a conducting fluid and a solid electrode and find a good agreement with analytical predictions based on lubrication theory. Finally, we investigate the film dynamics at long times and report observations of film breakup and entrapment similar to previously reported experimental results.

Viscoplastic fluids in 2D plane squeeze flow: A matched asymptotics analysis

Abstract: A matched asymptotic expansions approach is used to determine the flow behaviour of Casson and Herschel–Bulkley fluids between two parallel plates that are approaching each other with a constant velocity. The present study is based on the earlier work of Muravleva (2015), who has analyzed the squeeze flow of a Bingham fluid using the method of matched asymptotic expansions. A naive application of classical lubrication theory leads to a kinematic inconsistency in the predicted plug region - the well known “squeeze flow paradox” for a viscoplastic fluid. The objective of this work is to determine a consistent solution for the aforementioned constitutive equations. Based on the technique of matched asymptotic expansions, the solution is formulated in terms of separate expansions in the regions adjacent to the two plates where the shear stress is dominant, and a central pseudo-plug (plastic) region where the normal stresses become comparable to the shear stress; the two regions being separated by a pseudo-yield surface. In this manner, a complete asymptotic solution is developed for the squeeze flow of both Casson and Herschel–Bulkley fluid models. Using this solution, we derive expressions for the velocity, pressure and stress fields, and the squeeze force acting to retard the plates. The effect of the yield threshold on the pseudo-yield surface that separates the sheared and plastic zones, pressure distribution and squeeze force is investigated.

Unsteady three-dimensional MHD flow of the micropolar fluid over an oscillatory disk with Cattaneo-Christov double diffusion

Abstract: Cattaneo-Christov heat and mass flux models are considered rather than Fourier and Fick laws due to the presence of thermal and concentration transport hyperbolic phenomena. The generalized form of the Navier-Stokes model is considered in hydromagnetic flow. Three-dimensional (3D) unsteady fluid motion is generated by the periodic oscillations of a rotating disk. Similarity transformations are used to obtain the normalized fluid flow model. The successive over relaxation (SOR) method with finite difference schemes are accomplished for the numerical solution of the obtained partial differential non-linear system. The flow features of the velocity, microrotation, temperature, and concentration fields are discussed in pictorial forms for various physical flow parameters. The couple stresses and heat and mass transfer rates for different physical quantities are explained via tabular forms. For better insight of the physical fluid model, 3D fluid phenomena and two-dimensional (2D) contours are also plotted. The results show that the micropolar fluids contain microstructure having non-symmetric stress tensor and are useful in lubrication theory. Moreover, the thermal and concentration waves in Cattaneo-Christov models have a significance role in the laser heating and enhancement in thermal conductivity.

Theory of the flow-induced deformation of shallow compliant microchannels with thick walls

Abstract: Long, shallow microchannels embedded in thick soft materials are widely used in microfluidic devices for lab-on-a-chip applications. However, the bulging effect caused by fluid--structure interactions between the internal viscous flow and the soft walls has not been completely understood. Previous models either contain a fitting parameter or are specialized to channels with plate-like walls. This work is a theoretical study of the steady-state response of a compliant microchannel with a thick wall. Using lubrication theory for low-Reynolds-number flows and the theory for linearly elastic isotropic solids, we obtain perturbative solutions for the flow and deformation. Specifically, only the channel's top wall deformation is considered, and the ratio between its thickness $t$ and width $w$ is assumed to be $(t/w)^2 \gg 1$. We show that the deformation at each stream-wise cross-section can be considered independently, and that the top wall can be regarded as a simply supported rectangle subject to uniform pressure at its bottom. The stress and displacement fields are found using Fourier series, based on which the channel shape and the hydrodynamic resistance are calculated, yielding a new flow rate--pressure drop relation without fitting parameters. Our results agree favorably with, and thus rationalize, previous experiments.

Stability of lubricated viscous gravity currents. Part 2. Global analysis and stabilisation by buoyancy forces

Abstract: The novel viscous fingering instability recently found in the experiments of Kowal & Worster (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 766, 2015, pp. 626–655), involving two superposed currents of viscous fluid, has been shown to originate at the lubrication front when the fluids are of equal density. However, when the densities are unequal, additional buoyancy forces associated with the underlying layer act to suppress this instability and are largest at the lubrication front, which is where the instability originates. In this paper, we investigate the interaction between the mechanism of the instability and the stabilising influence of these buoyancy forces by performing a global and fully time-dependent analysis, which does not use the frozen-time approximation. We determine a critical condition for instability in terms of the viscosity ratio and the density difference between the two layers. Consistently with the local analysis of the companion paper, instabilities occur when the jump in hydrostatic pressure gradient across the lubrication front is negative, or, equivalently, when the intruding fluid is less viscous than the overlying fluid, provided the two fluids are of equal densities. Once there is a non-zero density difference, these driving buoyancy forces suppress the instability for large wavelengths, giving rise to wavelength selection. As the density difference increases, the instability criterion requires higher viscosity ratios for any instability to occur, and the band of unstable wavenumbers becomes bounded. Large enough density differences suppress the instability completely.

Hydrodynamics and rheology of a vesicle doublet suspension

Abstract: Effects of membrane-membrane adhesion on vesicle hydrodynamics are studied theoretically (using lubrication theory) and numerically (using time-adaptive boundary integral simulations). Novel vesicle dynamics are quantified to help design future microfluidic experiments to probe membrane adhesion.

Film thickness distribution in gravity-driven pancake-shaped droplets rising in a Hele-Shaw cell.

Abstract: We study here experimentally, numerically and using a lubrication approach, the shape, velocity and lubrication film thickness distribution of a droplet rising in a vertical Hele-Shaw cell. The droplet is surrounded by a stationary immiscible fluid and moves purely due to buoyancy. A low density difference between the two media helps to operate in a regime with capillary number . The experimental data show that in this regime the droplet velocity is not influenced by the thickness of the thin lubricating film and the dynamic meniscus. For iso-viscous cases, experimental and three-dimensional numerical results of the film thickness distribution agree well with each other. The mean film thickness is well captured by the Aussillous & Quere (Phys. Fluids, vol. 12 (10), 2000, pp. 2367–2371) model with fitting parameters. The droplet also exhibits the ‘catamaran’ shape that has been identified experimentally for a pressure-driven counterpart (Huerre et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 115 (6), 2015, 064501). This pattern has been rationalized using a two-dimensional lubrication equation. In particular, we show that this peculiar film thickness distribution is intrinsically related to the anisotropy of the fluxes induced by the droplet’s motion.

Nanoshaping of glass forming metallic liquids by stretching: evading lithography.

Abstract: Lithography-free nanomanufacturing by elongation and fracture of glass forming metallic liquid is presented. The viscous metallic liquid confined in a cavity is laterally downsized to nanoscale by stretching. The extent of size-reduction can be controlled by tuning the active volume of liquid and the viscous and capillary stresses. Very high aspect-ratio metal nanostructures can be fabricated without using lithography or expensive molds. A systematic study is performed using glass forming Pt-Cu-Ni-P alloy to understand the effects of viscosity, surface tension, pulling velocity, and cavity size on the evolution of cylindrical liquid column under tension. The results are quantitatively described using a phenomenological model based on lubrication theory and surface tension induced breakup of liquid filaments. A new manufacturing approach based on variable pulling velocity and/or spinning of metallic liquid is proposed for fabrication of complex geometries.

Stability of lubricated viscous gravity currents. Part 1. Internal and frontal analyses and stabilisation by horizontal shear

Abstract: A novel viscous fingering instability, involving a less viscous fluid intruding underneath a current of more viscous fluid, was recently observed in the experiments of Kowal & Worster (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 766, 2015, pp. 626–655). We examine the origin of the instability by asking whether the instability is an internal instability, arising from internal dynamics, or a frontal instability, arising from viscous intrusion. We find it is the latter and characterise the instability criterion in terms of viscosity difference or, equivalently, the jump in hydrostatic pressure gradient at the intrusion front. The mechanism of this instability is similar to, but contrasts with, the Saffman–Taylor instability, which occurs as a result of a jump in dynamic pressure gradient across the intrusion front. We focus on the limit in which the two viscous fluids are of equal density, in which a frontal singularity, arising at the intrusion, or lubrication, front, becomes a jump discontinuity, and perform a local analysis in an inner region near the lubrication front, which we match asymptotically to the far field. We also investigate the large-wavenumber stabilisation by transverse shear stresses in two dynamical regimes: a regime in which the wavelength of the perturbations is much smaller than the thickness of both layers of fluid, in which case the flow of the perturbations is resisted dominantly by horizontal shear stresses; and an intermediate regime, in which both vertical and horizontal shear stresses are important.

Shock formation in two-layer equal-density viscous gravity currents

Abstract: The flow of a viscous gravity current over a lubricating layer of fluid is modelled using lubrication theory. We study the case of an axisymmetric current with constant influx which allows for a similarity solution, which depends on three parameters: a non-dimensional influx rate . The numerically calculated similarity solutions compare well to experimental measurements with respect to the predictions of self-similarity, the radial extent and the self-similar top-surface shapes of the current.

Viscous control of shallow elastic fracture: peeling without precursors

Abstract: We consider peeling of an elastic sheet away from an elastic substrate through propagation of a fluid-filled crack along the interface between the two. The peeling is driven by a bending moment applied to the sheet and is resisted by viscous flow towards the crack tip and by the toughness of any bonding between the sheet and the substrate. Travelling-wave solutions are determined using lubrication theory coupled to the full equations of elasticity and fracture. The propagation speed scales like , where is the sheet’s thickness, its stiffness, its plane-strain modulus, the fluid viscosity, the applied bending moment and the sheet’s curvature due to bending; and the prefactor depends on the dimensionless toughness. If the toughness is small then there is a region of dry shear failure ahead of the fluid-filled region. The expressions for the propagation speed have been used to derive new similarity solutions for the spread of an axisymmetric fluid-filled blister in a variety of regimes: constant-flux injection resisted by elastohydrodynamics in the tip leads to spread proportional to , and for peeling-by-bending, gravitational spreading and peeling-by-pulling, respectively.

Viscoelastic Lubricant Deformation and Disk-to-Head Transfer During Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording

Abstract: One of the challenges in heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) is the formation of write-induced head contamination at the near-field transducer. A possible mechanism that has been proposed for this contamination is the transfer of lubricant from the disk to the head due to temperature driven evaporation/condensation. Most previous studies on lubricant depletion due to laser heating have assumed the lubricant to be a viscous fluid and have modeled its behavior using the traditional lubrication theory. However, perfluoropolyether lubricants are viscoelastic fluids and are expected to exhibit a combination of viscous and elastic behavior at the time and length scales of HAMR conditions. In this paper, we use a modified Reynolds lubrication equation for the viscoelastic fluid that employs the linear Maxwell constitutive model. We use this modified lubrication equation to develop a model that predicts the disk-to-head lubricant transfer during HAMR writing. This model simultaneously determines the thermocapillary stress driven deformation and evaporation of the viscoelastic lubricant film on the disk, the diffusion of the vapor phase lubricant in the air bearing, and the evolution of the condensed lubricant film on the head. We investigate the effects of lubricant type (Zdol versus Ztetraol), head/disk temperature, initial lubricant thickness, and laser spot size on the lubricant transfer process. Simulation results show a significant difference between the rates of transfer for Zdol (timescale of nanoseconds) versus Ztetraol (timescale of microseconds). The amount of transfer increases with the disk temperature and the initial lubricant thickness.

Extended Reynolds lubrication model for incompressible Newtonian fluid

Abstract: An extended lubrication model is proposed by taking into account a larger surface-to-surface distance than that for the Reynolds lubrication theory, and the wall-normal variation of the pressure is related to the longitudinal derivative of the local velocity of the Couette-Poiseuille flow.

Pressure-driven flow of a vesicle through a square microchannel

Abstract: The relative velocity and extra pressure drop of a single vesicle flowing through a square microchannel are quantified via boundary element simulations, lubrication theory and microfluidic experiments. The vesicle is modelled as a fluid sac enclosed by an inextensible, fluidic membrane with a negligible bending stiffness. All results are parametrized in terms of the vesicle sphericity (i.e. the reduced volume) and flow confinement (i.e. the ratio of the vesicle radius to the channel hydraulic radius). Direct comparison is made to previous studies of vesicle flow through circular tubes, revealing several distinct features of the square-channel geometry. Firstly, fluid in the suspending medium bypasses the vesicle through the corners of the channel, which in turn reduces the dissipation created by the vesicle. Secondly, the absence of rotational symmetry about the channel axis permits surface circulation in the membrane (tank treading), which in turn reduces the vesicle’s speed. At very high confinement, both theory and experiment indicate that the vesicle’s speed can be reduced below the mean speed of the suspending fluid through this mechanism. Finally, the contact area for lubrication is greatly reduced in the square-duct geometry, which in turn weakens the stress singularity predicted by lubrication theory. This fact directly leads to a breakdown of the lubrication approximation at low flow confinement, as verified by comparison to boundary element simulations. Since the only distinct property assumed of the membrane is its ability to preserve surface area locally, it is expected that the results of this study are applicable to other types of soft particles with immobilized surfaces (e.g. Pickering droplets, gel beads and biological cells).

Droplet levitation over a moving wall with a steady air film

Abstract: In isothermal non-coalescence behaviours of a droplet against a wall, an air film of micrometre thickness plays a crucial role. We experimentally study this phenomenon by letting a droplet levitate over a moving glass wall. The three-dimensional shape of the air film is measured using an interferometric method. The mean curvature distribution of the deformed free surface and the distributions of the lubrication pressure are derived from the experimental measurements. We vary experimental parameters, namely wall velocity, droplet diameter and viscosity of the droplets, over a wide range; for example, the droplet viscosity is varied over two orders of magnitude. For the same wall velocity, the air film of low-viscosity droplets shows little shape oscillation with constant film thickness (defined as the steady state), while that of highly viscous droplets shows a significant shape oscillation with varying film thickness (defined as the unsteady state). The droplet viscosity also affects the surface velocity of a droplet. Under our experimental conditions, where the air film shape can be assumed to be steady, we present experimental evidence showing that the lift force generated inside the air film balances with the droplet’s weight. We also verify that the lubrication pressure locally balances with the surface tension and hydrostatic pressures. This indicates that lubrication pressure and the shape of the free surface are mutually determined. Based on the local pressure balance, we discuss a process of determining the steady shape of an air film that has two areas of minimum thickness in the vicinity of the downstream rim.

Fluid dynamics of the slip boundary condition for isothermal rimming flow with moderate inertial effects

Abstract: Motivated by evaluating coating oil films within bearing chambers in an aero-engine application, an analysis is presented for the fluid dynamics relevant in their dual capacity as both the coolant and lubricant in highly sheared flows that may approach microscale thickness. An extended model is developed for isothermal rimming flow driven by substantial surface shear within a stationary cylinder. In particular, a partial slip condition replaces the no-slip condition at the wall whilst retaining inertial effects relevant to an intrinsic high speed operation. A depth-averaged formulation is presented that includes appropriate inertial effects at leading-order within a thin film approximation that encompasses a more general model of assessing the impact of surface slip. Non-dimensional mass and momentum equations are integrated across the film depth yielding a one dimensional problem with the a priori assumption of local velocity profiles. The film flow solutions for rimming flow with wall slip are modeled to a higher order than classical lubrication theory. We investigate the impact of wall slip on the transition from pooling to uniform films. Numerical solutions of film profiles are provided for the progressively increased Reynolds number, within a moderate inertia regime, offering evaluation into the effect of film slippage on the dynamics of rimming flow. We find that slip allows non-unique solution regions and existence of multiple possible steady state solutions evaluated in transforming from smooth to pooling film solutions. Additionally, boundary slip is shown to enhance the development of recirculation regions within the film which are detrimental to bearing chamber flows.

Analysis on sealing performance of VL seals based on mixed lubrication theory

Abstract: This paper aims to research the influence of pressure, friction factors, roughness and actuating speed to the mixed lubrication models of outstroke and instroke.,Mixed lubrication model is solved by finite volume method, which consists of coupled fluid mechanics, deformation mechanics and contact mechanics analyses. The influence of friction factor on the finite element model is also considered. Then, contact pressure, film thickness, friction and leakage have been studied.,It was found that the amount of leakage is sensitive to the film thickness. The larger the film thickness is, the greater the influence received from the friction factor, however, the effect of oil film on the friction is negligible. The friction is determined mainly by the contact pressure. The trend of friction and leakage influenced by actuating velocity and roughness is also obtained.,The influence of friction factor on the finite element model is considered. This can make the calculation more accurate.