Lubrication theory

About: Lubrication theory is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1713 publications have been published within this topic receiving 50261 citations. The topic is also known as: Fluid bearing.

Numerical study at moderate Reynolds number of peristaltic flow of micropolar fluid through a porous-saturated channel in magnetic field

Abstract: This paper analyzes the MHD flow of micropolar fluid induced by peristaltic waves passing through the porous saturated channel at large Reynolds number. The flow model is formulated in the absence of assumptions of lubrication theory which yields the governing equations into a non-linear set of coupled partial differential equations which allows studying the peristaltic mechanism at non-zero Reynolds and wave numbers. The influence of other involved parameters on velocity, stream function and microrotation are discussed through graphs plotted by using Galerkin’s finite element method. Besides that, the phenomena of pumping and trapping are also analyzed in the later part of the paper. To ensure the accuracy of the developed code, obtained results are compared with the results available in the literature and found in excellent agreement. It is found that the peristalsis mixing can be enhanced by increasing Hartmann number while it reduces by increasing permeability of the porous medium.

Experimental and theoretical study of dewetting corner flow

Abstract: We study a partial dewetting corner flow with a moving contact line at a finite Reynolds number, . When the speed of the moving contact line increases, the receding contact line appears with a corner shape that is also observed in a gravity-driven liquid droplet on an incline and on a plate withdrawn from a bath. In the current problem, is larger than unity, where is the aspect ratio of the flow structure. Therefore, classical lubrication theory is no longer appropriate. We develop a modified three-dimensional lubrication model for the dewetting corner structure at by taking into account the internal flow pattern and by scaling arguments. The key requirement is that the streamlines in the corner are straight and (nearly) parallel. In this case, we can obtain a modified pressure consisting of the capillary pressure and the dynamic pressure. This model describes the three-dimensional dewetting corner structure at the rear of the moving droplets at and furthermore shows that the dynamic pressure effects become dominant at a small half-opening angle. Additionally, this model provides analytical results for the internal flow, which is a self-similar flow pattern. To validate the analytical results, we perform high-speed shadowgraphy and tomographic particle image velocimetry (PIV). We find a good agreement between the theoretical and the experimental results.