Numerical Simulations of Lubricating Grease Flow in a Rectangular Channel with and without Restrictions

ABSTRACT

This article presents numerical simulations of the laminar flow of lubricating greases in a channel with rectangular cross section. Three greases with different consistencies (NLGI grades 00, 1, and 2) have been considered in three different configurations composed of a rectangular channel without restrictions, one rectangular step restriction, and one double-lip restriction. The driving pressure drop over the channel spans from 30 to 250 kPa. The grease rheology is described by the Herschel-Bulkley rheology model, and both the numerical code and rheology model have been validated with analytical solutions and flow measurements using micro-particle image velocimetry.

KEYWORDS:

• Lubricating grease flow
• boundary layer
• velocity profile
• rheology
• lubrication
• computational fluid dynamics (CFD)

Acknowledgements

This project is part of Smart Machines and Material (SM2), one of LTU's strong research- and innovation areas.