Inertial MHD Couple Stress Effects on Infinitely Wide Slider Bearings

Abstract

This article presents a numerical study of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) infinitely wide plane inclined slider bearings including both fluid inertia and non-Newtonian couple stress effects. Fluid inertia forces are considered in the film fluid using a simplified form of the Navier-Stokes equations. The non-Newtonian couple stress behavior of the lubricant is described based on the microcontinuum Stokes theory. The governing equations are discretized by finite differences using a boundary layer–type equations resolution. The resulting algebraic equations are solved using the Gauss-Seidel method. It is found that the couple effects of fluid inertia forces, MHD, and non-Newtonian couple stresses provide a significant improvement in the slider bearing load capacity compared to the case of the noninertia Newtonian nonconducting lubricant. The use of conducting lubricant diminishes the negative effect of inertia forces on the friction coefficient.

KEY WORDS:

• Maghetohydrodynamic Lubrication
• Reduced Navier-Stokes Equations
• Couple Stress
• Inclined Slider Bearing