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Moving contact line dynamics calculations include two models: precursor film models and slip models. The lubrication approximation method is used to establish a three-dimensional mathematical model to analyze the droplet thermocapillary migration behavior on a non-uniformly heated solid substrate with a wettability track. The contact line dynamics in the slip model and the disjoining pressure effect in the precursor model are proposed to regulate the substrate wettability. Both models are numerically implemented to investigate droplet spreading for three cases: free spreading on an isothermal substrate, thermocapillary migration on a uniform wettability substrate, and thermocapillary migration on a wettability-confined track. For the case of free spreading on an isothermal substrate, the three-dimensional results of the slip and precursor contact line models are essentially consistent with two-dimensional slip model results. For the case of thermocapillary migration on a uniform wettability substrate, the results of the two models essentially agree with the experimental results. Decreasing the thermal gradient reduces the discrepancies between the two models that result from the coordinate transformation method used in the slip model, which reduces the contact angles measured in the y-direction and enlarges the advancing contact angle in the migration direction. For the case of thermocapillary migration on a wettability-confined track, the slip model gradually shows a "dynamic-pinning" behavior with increasing equilibrium contact angle in the hydrophobic region. By contrast, the precursor film model maintains a stationary pinning behavior but separates a residual liquid outside the track. The precursor film model is preferred over the slip model in lubrication approximations for three-dimensional fluids when calculating complex moving contact dynamics caused by wettability differences. However, the precursor film model must be further optimized to prevent numerical instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a cylinder immersed in viscous fluid moving near a flat substrate covered by an incompressible viscoelastic fluid layer, and study the effect of the fluid viscoelasticity on the lift force exerted on the cylinder. The lift force is zero when the viscoelastic layer is not deformed, but becomes non-zero when it is deformed. We calculate the lift force by considering both the tangential stress and the normal stress applied at the surface of the viscoelastic layer. Our analysis indicates that as the layer changes from the elastic limit to the viscous limit, the lift force decreases with the decrease of the Deborah number (De). For small De, the effect of the layer elasticity is taken over by the surface tension and the lift force can become negative. We also show that the tangential stress and the interface slip velocity (the surface velocity relative to the substrate), which have been ignored in the previous analysis, give important contributions to the lift force. Especially for thin elastic layers, they give dominant contributions to the lift force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding droplet migration in stenosed microchannels is crucial for various applications. This study explores how droplet properties (viscosity, surface tension, density, and diameter) and channel characteristics (stenosis degree and wall elasticity) affect droplet movement and blockage in deformable stenosed microchannels. Higher viscosities lead to lubrication film formation between droplet and wall, reducing viscous resistance, while increased surface tension enhances wall adherence, amplifying Laplace pressure. Droplet entry is primarily influenced by viscosity, while passage is governed by surface tension and curvature effects at the droplet–wall interface. Surface tension dominates pressure generation in the channel and within the droplet, influencing wall deformation and hydrodynamic resistance. The study examines the relationship among droplet viscosity, density, surface tension, channel wall elasticity, and the maximum capillary number (C a max ) on the lubrication film thickness between the droplet and the channel wall. A lubrication film exists for C a max ≥ 0.095 , reducing blockage chances. A critical range of the modified Ohnesorge number O h * × 1000 ≤ 132 and the capillary number (C a max < 0.095) indicates higher chances of droplet blockage. The blockage prediction method based on the modified Ohnesorge exhibits a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 92.6%, and accuracy of 95.9%. Additionally, the study explores the impact of channel wall elasticity on droplet entry, transit, and hydrodynamic resistance. Higher wall elasticity facilitates faster entry but introduces curvature during passage, increasing frictional resistance and blockage likelihood as the wall softens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We numerically investigate the pressure drop reduction (PDR) performance of microchannels equipped with liquid-infused surfaces, along with determining the shape of the interface between the working fluid and lubricant within the microgrooves. The effects of different parameters, such as the Reynolds number of working fluid, density and viscosity ratios between the lubricant and working fluid, the ratio of the thickness of the lubricant layer over the ridges to the depth of the groove, and the Ohnesorge number as a representative of the interfacial tension, on the PDR and interfacial meniscus within the microgrooves are comprehensively studied. The results reveal that the density ratio and Ohnesorge number do not significantly affect the PDR. On the other hand, the viscosity ratio considerably affects the PDR, and a maximum PDR of 62% compared to a smooth non-lubricated microchannel is achieved for a viscosity ratio of 0.01. Interestingly, the higher the Reynolds number of the working fluid, the higher the PDR. The meniscus shape within the microgrooves is strongly affected by the Reynolds number of the working fluid. Despite the insignificant effect of interfacial tension on the PDR, the interface shape within the microgrooves is appreciably influenced by this parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transient mixed lubrication behaviors in thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication (TEHL) contacts during startup and stop are investigated. A transient mixed TEHL model for point contacts under time-varying speed conditions is proposed with comprehensive consideration of surface roughness, thermal effect, and transient behavior. The model is validated by the comparison to available published data. Based on the developed model, significant differences have been found compared with transient EHL and steady TEHL models. In addition, the transient mixed TEHL performance during start–stop with different acceleration rates and surface roughness is investigated. It shows that the lubrication behaviors during start–stop have an irreversible process. The roughness can significantly enhance the transient behavior. The roughness effect has a remarkable impact on lubrication performance in mixed lubrication. The evolution of lubrication behaviors during start–stop is highly related to the acceleration rate and surface topography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of temperature variations and viscoelastic deformation is critical in dynamically loaded journal bearings, especially under fluctuating heavy load conditions. Previous studies have not fully explored the coupling of these two factors. Addressing this gap, this research introduces a novel transient mixed lubrication model that simultaneously considers thermal and viscoelastic effects. This model reveals intricate dynamics influencing the lubrication performance of journal bearings. The findings show that the combined impact of thermal and viscoelastic factors significantly alters the amplitude and phase of lubrication performance parameters. Notably, thermal effects tend to decrease oil film pressure while increasing asperity contact pressure, whereas viscoelastic effects enhance the oil film pressure peak and adjust its phase, concurrently reducing asperity contact pressure. Moreover, varying the eccentric speed profoundly influences the interplay between bearing thermal and viscoelastic effects. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of mixed lubrication in journal bearings and provides technical support for more accurate and predictive reliability improvement in complex mechanical systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic behavior of the pump-turbine thrust bearing is important to the safety operation of the unit. This paper analyzed the lubrication and energy dissipation mechanism of pump-turbine thrust bearing during load-rejection based on the thermo-hydrodynamic model. The results show that the variation of the axial force and the maximum pad surface pressure is basically consistent with that of the inclination of the pad surface. The change of the friction loss is consistent with the change of rotational speed, while the change of pad surface temperature is affected by the combination of pad inclination and rotational speed. The chaotic flow in the oil tank is accompanied by different forms of vortices, such as Taylor vortices, vortex pairs, and Karman vortices, and results in a significant asymmetry in the pressure distribution. The flow in the bearing pad groove has an effect on the energy dissipation in the oil film. This paper provides a theoretical basis for the design and optimization of thrust bearings, and provides a reference for solving the problems of wear, oil mist, and other related problems of thrust bearings in engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term wear of the piston/cylinder pair is the main failure reason for axial piston pumps. In this paper, the dynamics of textured films to enhance the lubrication performance of piston/cylinder pairs is investigated systematically. The oil film is divided into three regions: the head region, the texture region, and the tail region. The Reynolds equation is used to predict the dynamics, which includes the carrying capacity and the friction. Influences of the texture geometries and the working conditions are presented in sequence. The results show that the texture enhances the lubrication performance by the collective effect. A shorter head length and a larger area ratio always benefit the lubrication performance, while increasing the texture region length does not always lead to positive effects, and the cell length is found to have negligible influences. The texture effect is found to be enhanced with larger shearing velocities and to be restrained with higher inlet pressures. It is also shown that the texture is effective for small inclination angles. Furthermore, a one-dimensional model is performed to unravel the mathematical mechanism, and an explicit expression is given for the texture region length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we investigate the complex drainage behavior of liquid ("dimple") films entrapped between hydrophilic glass substrates and air bubbles in water and aqueous suspensions of polystyrene (PS) particles. The film drainage was monitored by capturing the evolution of spatial-temporal thicknesses using interferometry. Faster drainage of the entrapped film is observed in the PS colloid suspensions compared to the water. The film drainage strongly depends on the interface boundary conditions. Our experiments reveal that the air–liquid interface of the entrapped film becomes partially mobile in the PS suspensions, which results in faster drainage. The hydrophobic PS particles tend to migrate toward the air–water interface and form an ordered layer. We argue that the adsorbed layer of PS particles makes the bubble surface elastic, delaying the formation of the immobile interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive review of mechanical design and synthesis methods for piezo-actuated compliant micro-positioning stages, which play an important role in areas where high precision motion is required, including bio-robotics, precision manufacturing, automation, and aerospace. Unlike conventional rigid-link mechanisms, the motion of compliant mechanisms is realized by using flexible elements, whereby deformation requires no lubrication while achieving high movement accuracy without friction. As compliant mechanisms differ significantly from traditional rigid mechanisms, recent research has focused on investigating various technologies and approaches to address challenges in the flexure-based micro-positioning stage in the aspects of synthesis, analysis, material, fabrication, and actuation. In this paper, we reviewed the main concepts and key advances in the mechanical design of compliant piezo-actuated micro-positioning stages, with a particular focus on flexure design, kineto-static modeling, actuators, material selection, and functional mechanisms including amplification and self-guiding ones. We also identified the key issues and directions for the development trends of compliant micro-positioning stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reveal the effect of coating properties on the mixed lubrication evolution during the start–stop process of gas foil bearing (GFB), a transient gas mixed lubrication-wear model for coating surface is established. In the developed model, a method of the extended equivalent modulus by the film thickness ratio is proposed, which can extend the classic Greenwood and Tripp contact model for homogeneous materials to the coating contact involving layered materials. Moreover, a gas foil bearing start–stop experiment is conducted to verify the predicted results of the developed model. The effects of coating materials and standard deviation of coating surface on the start–stop performance of GFB are investigated. Within the scope of this article, the results show that during start-up, the gas film pressure first increases and then decreases with the increase in time, the minimum film thickness increases, while the asperity contact decreases. The opposite evolution is observed during shut-down. Compared with uncoated GFB, the friction torque and lift-off speed of GFB with polyimide (PI) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) are reduced, with PI reducing friction torque by 24.27% and PTFE by 49.03%. The minimum lift-off speed with PTFE is the smallest. The lift-off speed, friction torque, and wear volume increase with the increase in the standard deviation of coating surface. The friction torque and lift-off speed decrease as the start–stop cycle increases until both reach stability. This paper can provide theoretical guidance for the design of the top foil coating surface of GFB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the mixed lubrication of anisotropic non-Gaussian rough surfaces. An adaptive fluid Reynolds equation is proposed, which takes into account multiple factors such as pressure-flow factors, contact factors, and shear flow factors. The aim is to evaluate the lubrication performance of anisotropic non-Gaussian rough surfaces with transverse and longitudinal textures. We find that statistical parameters of asperities height distribution on non-Gaussian rough surfaces exert a crucial influence on contact lubrication performance, with kurtosis and skewness proving to be particularly significant. Moreover, directional effects of anisotropic rough surface textures on lubrication performance of non-Gaussian rough surfaces are complex and vary. This study proposes an innovative conclusion that optimizing asperities height distribution parameters can significantly refine the surface lubrication performance, subsequently improving operational efficiency and machinery lifespan. Furthermore, the fluid Reynolds equation developed in the paper offers theoretical support and experimental guidance for the in-depth investigation of the contact lubrication performance of non-Gaussian rough surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The piston/cylinder pair is one of the most important friction pairs in the axial piston pump; reducing the friction of it can improve the axial piston pump efficiency. In this paper, the Reynolds equation coupled with the Half–Sommerfeld boundary condition is applied to predict the dynamics of the textured piston/cylinder pairs, and the characteristic function is used to predict the optimal geometry parameters. The analysis results show that the combination of the shearing coefficient and the characteristic function can predict the cavitation region and the critical inclination angle. The results of this paper provide theoretical guidance for the surface texture design on piston/cylinder pairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novelty of this paper is to numerically investigate the effect of manufacturing error and misalignment on the transient lubrication behavior of dynamically loaded journal bearings with micro-groove. Based on the average Reynolds equation considering the mass conservation cavitation algorithm, the asperity contact model, and the force balance equation, the mixed lubrication model under time-varying dynamic loads is developed. Meanwhile, mathematical functions are given for the bearings with different surface profiles, including the circumferential and axial manufacturing errors of the bearing, the horizontal and vertical deflection angles of the journal, and the micro-grooves with different distribution forms. According to this model, the lubrication characteristics of the bearing are systematically investigated at different horizontal and vertical deflection angles, amplitudes, spatial numbers, and phase angles of the circumferential waviness, as well as shape profiles of the axial error. In addition, the performance parameters of dynamically loaded journal bearings with ideal and actual surfaces under different micro-groove distributions are comparatively evaluated. Numerical results show that manufacturing errors and misalignment have a remarkable effect on the transient behavior of dynamically loaded journal bearings, and the coupling effect will be more consistent with practical engineering. It can be found that the distribution form of the micro-groove surface directly affects the friction reduction effect of bearing systems. The numerical model can serve as a meaningful guideline for the optimum design of dynamically loaded journal bearing with micro-groove. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A model hydrodynamic lubrication tribometer consisting of two hydrodynamic journal bearings working under thin film conditions was developed to investigate the mechanisms of hydrodynamic friction with low-viscosity fluids and the role of surface effects. A small nominal radial clearance of about 5 µm was considered between the two surfaces. This fully instrumented setup provides in situ information on the sheared fluid film in terms of simultaneous measurements of film thickness; localization and extension of the cavitation zone, with a resolution of 30°; nominal friction torques up to 0.5 N m, with an accuracy of 0.05 mN m; temperature; and the position of the shaft for velocities up to 12 000 rpm. To illustrate the capability of the Osiris tribometer, thin hydrodynamic film measurements were performed on smooth surfaces. The results are presented here, and the thermal effects, acceleration, and inertia contributions are discussed. Finally, the influence of the surface topography using textured surfaces was demonstrated and the role of adsorbed layers on the surface due to fluid formulation was highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An in-depth analysis of the kinetics of the collision between freely rising oil droplets in water in the range of Re = 4.64–463.3 was carried out to understand the physical mechanism and detailed kinetics of the interaction between the oil droplets and wall. The results show that when oil droplets with Re ≥ 27.8 hit the wall vertically at terminal velocities, a "dimple-like" water film is formed near the wall, which significantly affects the pressure distribution within the water film, the oil–water interfacial shear force, and forces on oil droplet. A coupled model describing water film thickness and pressure accurately captures the kinetic behavior of water film drainage near the wall. The film-induced force based on lubrication theory can reasonably predict the motion trajectory of oil droplets near the wall and dominate the motion of oil droplets colliding with the wall. The motion phase diagram with (Re, We) as the control parameter was established to quickly identify the droplet motion rule under different liquid–liquid density ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on our study of gas–liquid two-phase flow of air plasma and its associated dynamic behavior, droplet activity, and applications. The propagation of the air plasma jet within a Venturi configuration is significantly perturbed by the presence of water droplets due to the local modification of the electric field that results from polarization and charging of the droplets. This local modulation, in turn, decreases the discharge current pulses and the radiation intensity of optical emissions. With a change in inlet airflow dynamics from laminar to turbulent (5–10 L/min), the droplet diameter decreased exponentially under strong pressure from millimeter to several tens of micrometers, whereas the gas–droplet contact area increased substantially. The production of short-lived reactive aqueous species OH and O2− was enhanced at the gas–liquid interface of the biphasic plasma droplets, and the activities of different long-lived species (H2O2, NO3−, and O3) in the droplet were highly selective in droplet diameter and value of the Henry-law constants. This new plasma source architecture enables an in situ activation of water sprays by plasma jets at short time scales, providing a desirable and effective sterilization tool and wastewater treatment at a relatively low cost and ease of operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Squeeze film pressure sensors exploit the dynamical modification of the mechanical properties of oscillating elements due to the compression of a fluid in a small gap region and allow for direct and absolute pressure measurements. This Tutorial article discusses the working principles of membrane sandwich squeeze film pressure sensors—i.e., sensors comprised of a parallel arrangement of two large-area, ultrathin suspended films forming a few-micrometer gap, and immersed in a fluid—and focuses on their operation in the free molecular flow regime. The effects of gas pressure on the vibrations of the membrane resonators and their coupled dynamics are discussed in general terms before recent experimental implementations using high tensile stress silicon nitride membranes are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate the epitaxial growth of (111)-oriented Sr1 − xCaxTiO3 (SCTO) thin films on (0002) GaN using a thin (100) TiO2 buffer layer by RF-plasma-assisted oxide molecular beam epitaxy. We explore the growth window of SCTO for both x = 0 (i.e., SrTiO3) and x = 0.24 with various TiO2 buffer layer thicknesses and find that a substrate temperature of 650 °C and TiO2 thickness of 1 nm produce the highest quality films, as determined by reflection high energy electron diffraction, x-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy. SCTO films deposited without a buffer layer are polycrystalline, confirming the necessity of the TiO2 buffer layer to facilitate (111)-oriented epitaxial growth of SCTO on GaN. Transmission electron microscopy performed on the samples shows that the SCTO films grown with a TiO2 buffer layer are highly textured, and selected-area electron diffraction patterns indicate that some domains in the oxide exhibit cation ordering along the (111) direction. We also show that the growth mode changes from 2D to 3D as the thickness of SCTO increases past 10 nm, which leads to film relaxation and a rougher surface morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to obtain the loading capacity and its variation of the squeeze-film air bearing, taking an air bearing as the research object, the structure model and the equivalent disk model of the squeeze-film air bearing are established. The modal analysis of the designed structure is carried out, and the mode of the bearing structure in the ultrasonic frequency range and the working squeeze frequency of the bearing are obtained. At the same time, the influence of air film thickness on the load characteristics of squeeze-film air bearing is analyzed by the fluid–solid coupling method. The relationship between air film thickness and loading capacity, and the relationship between contact area and loading capacity are obtained, respectively, by the above method. The results show that reducing the gap between the bearing bush and the rotor, increasing the amplitude of the bearing bush, and increasing the contact area between the bearing bush and the rotor can improve the loading capacity of the squeeze-film air bearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spreading behavior of a droplet under squeezing between parallel plates is seen in the adhesion of microelectronic components and the lubrication of human joints, which is a process involving complex micro-scale flow behaviors, such as three-phase contact line movement. In this study, a many-body dissipative particle dynamics method is employed to account for this process. The method has been first validated by comparing with Cox's theory of contact lines. Two stages have been identified during the process of squeezing: a contact line retraction state and a symmetrical spreading state, which can also be reflected by the change of the system's surface energy. The combined effects of the squeezing velocity and plate's wettability on the appearance of the first stage have been investigated, showing that a large enough squeezing velocity and a hydrophobic enough substrate will lead to no contraction of the contact line. This study provides a valuable tool to explore the possibility of controlling the droplet squeezing behavior and, thus, is helpful for optimizing the adhesion and lubrication process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past 20 years, droplet microfluidics is burgeoning in many chemical and biological applications due to the unique capability of droplets to act as confined containers. Confinement is ensured even in the case of squeezed droplets within microchannels much smaller than droplet volumes due to the presence of a lubrication thin film that prevents contact between droplets and the channel walls. The thickness of the lubrication film depends on the dynamics of the entire microfluidic system, affecting the actual droplet's shape and velocity. Therefore, this film is extensively studied to obtain insight into the dynamics of flowing droplets, especially when confined in small channels. Circular cross section channels are the most studied for their axial symmetry, but practical applications present most likely non-axisymmetric channels, as a result of fabrication processes, such as soft lithographic rectangular channels. The latter showed unique transitional morphological behavior of droplets, which assumes an axisymmetric or non-axisymmetric shape during their flow inside a non-axisymmetric channel, depending on the lubrication film. This work gives a comprehensive experimental characterization of the dynamics of the lubrication film during the droplet shape transition. We settled on a novel approach based on the optical diffraction of a localized light beam provided by two-facing optical waveguides integrated with the microfluidics circuit. The technique allows for studying the dynamics of flowing droplets and their relationship with the lubrication film thickness. Additionally, this experimental system enables a precise definition of two regimes of lubrication film, and the critical capillary number at which the transition occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the relatively low load-carrying capacity, low-viscosity lubricated bearings can easily operate in a mixed-lubrication regime. Furthermore, low lubricant viscosity may cause local turbulence in the area with relatively thick film. To analyze the influence of local turbulence on the transient characteristics of mixed-lubrication bearings, a simulation approach for unsteady mixed-lubrication bearings considering local turbulence effects is proposed. Transient journal center locations are solved via journal dynamic equations and numerical integration. The ratio of the film thickness to the roughness determines whether each node of the bearing is in the mixed-lubrication area or the pure hydrodynamic lubrication area. The liquid film in the mixed-lubrication area is analyzed by a transient average Reynolds equation to account for the surface roughness effect. A liquid film in the hydrodynamic lubrication area is analyzed by a transient generalized Reynolds equation to consider local turbulence. The transient average Reynolds equation and transient generalized Reynolds equation are derived in a form convenient for coupling with the governing equations of the journal center. The proposed model is experimentally validated. The influence of local turbulence on unsteady mixed-lubrication bearings is analyzed. The results show that local turbulence and asperity contact can coexist in low-viscosity lubricated bearings, even if the journal speed is relatively low. In the mixed-lubrication regime, local turbulence increases the minimum film thickness and decreases the friction coefficient as well as the journal speed at which the mixed-lubrication transitions to hydrodynamic lubrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lubricating oil is usually injected in the gap between mechanical interfaces to reduce the friction and wear and improve the normal bearing capacity of the interface. The state of the mixed lubrication is induced from the inadequate lubrication. However, in the investigation of this state, the irregular oil pits of rough surfaces are usually simplified to be the cylindrical or conical in traditional contact models, which is disagreed with the actual contact situations and makes errors in the contact analysis when it is used to reveal the contact performance of the mixed lubrication. To investigate the normal and tangential contact performances for the real mixed lubrication, the normal and tangential contact models reproducing the effects of both the surface roughness and the lubrication viscosity on the normal contact force as well as the tangential fraction force are proposed in this work. Based on the statistical theory, the total area of oil pits is presented to describe irregular oil pits of rough surfaces. Then, the contact performance between the solid and liquid parts involved in the mixed lubrication is analyzed referring to the elastic–plastic theory and the hydrodynamics theory. Finally, several key influencing factors (including the surface roughness, the film thickness, and the lubrication oil viscosity) on the normal and tangential contact performances of mechanical interface are revealed. The main contribution of this work is providing some guidance on the improvement of the normal and tangential contact performances of the mechanical interface by adjusting the normal pressure, the surface roughness, the relative movement speed, and the viscosity of the lubricating medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lubrication is essential to minimize wear and friction between contacting surfaces in relative motion. Oil based lubricants are often enhanced via polymer additives to minimize self-degradation due to the shear thinning effect. Therefore, an accurate estimate of the load carrying capacity of the thin lubricating film requires careful modeling of shear thinning. Available models such as the generalized Reynolds equation (GR) and the approximate shear distribution have drawbacks such as large computational time and poor accuracy, respectively. In this work, we present a new approach, i.e., the modified viscosity (MV) model, based on calculating the strain rate only in one point along the vertical direction. We investigate, for both MV and GR, the load, the maximum pressure, and the computational time for (i) sliding (non-cavitating) contacts, (ii) cavitating, and (iii) squeezing contacts. We observe that the computational time is reduced (i) considerably for non-cavitating sliding and rolling contacts and (ii) by several orders of magnitudes for cavitating and squeezing contacts. Furthermore, the accuracy of MV is comparable with the GR model within an appreciable range of bearing numbers. Finally, for each type of boundary motion, we have determined the optimal vertical location to calculate the shear strain rate for MV; while this optimal value is close to half the height of the contact for sliding configurations, for rolling dominated and squeezing contacts it is around one quarter (or three quarter) of their height. We finally provide an analysis to a priori estimate the optimal location of the strain rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motion of three-phase contact lines is one of the most relevant research topics of micro- and nano-fluidics. According to many hydrodynamic and molecular models, the dynamics of contact lines is assumed overdamped and dominated by localized liquid–solid friction, entailing the existence of a mobility relation between contact line speed and microscopic contact angle. We present and discuss a set of non-equilibrium atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of water nanodroplets spreading on or confined between silica-like walls, showing the existence of the aforementioned relation and its invariance under wetting modes ("spontaneous" or "forced"). Upon changing the wettability of the walls, it has been noticed that more hydrophilic substrates are easier to wet rather than de-wet; we show how this asymmetry can be automatically captured by a contact line friction model that accounts for the molecular transport between liquid layers. A simple examination of the order and orientation of near-contact-line water molecules corroborates the physical foundation of the model. Furthermore, we present a way to utilize the framework of multicomponent molecular kinetic theory to analyze molecular contributions to the motion of contact lines. Finally, we propose an approach to discriminate between contact line friction models which overcomes the limitations of experimental resolution. This work constitutes a stepping stone toward demystifying wetting dynamics on high-friction hydrophilic substrates and underlines the relevance of contact line friction in modeling the motion of three-phase contact lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to develop a mathematical model for investigating the nonlinear dynamic mixed friction behaviors, including hydrodynamic force, contact force, deformation, and displacements, of the novel coupled bearing lubricated with low-viscosity fluid. The model fully couples the five-degrees-of-freedom rotor dynamic model with the mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication model of the novel coupled bearing, considering the unbalance and exciting forces/comments caused by the propeller rotor. A comparative analysis is carried out to validate the effectiveness of the present model. Through the numerical simulation, the dynamic nonlinear mixed friction behaviors of the novel coupled bearing under low-viscosity lubricant are revealed. Based on the established mathematical model, a series of parametric studies are conducted to explore the effect of the structural parameters on the nonlinear mixed friction behavior of the novel coupled bearing. Numerical results demonstrate that the exciting moments increase the range of the journal orbit, thereby generating the edge asperity contact for both the journal and thrust bearings. The angular displacement along the y axis improves the transient mixed friction performances of the thrust bearing. Furthermore, numerical results reveal that the increasing length–diameter ratio of the journal bearing (the specific pressure remains constant) improves the nonlinear dynamic mixed friction behaviors of the thrust bearing. In addition, the nonlinear dynamic mixed friction performance of the journal bearing becomes better with the increase in the thrust bearing radius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Falling film technology has been widely applied in various industrial processes, but vapor shearing effects cause significant problems. The mechanism by which vapor affects the hydrodynamics of a falling film has not yet been fully understood, particularly for cross vapor streams. In this paper, a three-dimensional model is developed to investigate the hydrodynamics of a falling film on a horizontal tube with a cross vapor stream. The results indicate that (1) there are valley and peak zones during the spreading of the liquid film; (2) the effect of cross vapor flow on the hydrodynamics of the falling film depends on the film flow rate, the cross vapor velocity, and the position on the tube; (3) with increasing vapor velocity, the peripheral film thickness increases on both the upwind and downwind sides for values of z* (the dimensionless axial coordinate) from 0 to 0.1, while decreasing on the upwind side but increasing on the downwind side for values of z* from 0.2 to 0.5; and (4) under the action of the cross vapor stream, liquid film offset occurs, characterized by the formation of new stagnation and detachment zones on the downwind side of the tube. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seepage behavior of lubricant on a porous surface has a significant influence on its lubrication characteristics. This paper studied the unsteady seepage response of a lubricant on a loading porous surface. The exudation and supply behaviors of lubricant to the porous surface are discussed. The results show that the lubricant infiltration and exudation all exist on the porous surface. The normal seepage velocity of the lubricant can be divided into the primary velocity and secondary velocity at different positions of the whole surface. In most loading times, the primary velocity is greater than the secondary velocity. The change of the principal velocity shows that the infiltration and exudation of the lubricant arise in the contact area and its inlet, respectively. On both sides away from the entrance of the contact area, the secondary velocity goes through a diffusion, fluctuation, and stability process within the loading period. During the fluctuation of the velocity, the phenomena of infiltration and exudation alternate repeatedly. The secondary velocity occasionally exceeds the principal velocity. The normal pressure gradient is the internal cause that drives the diffusion and fluctuation of the secondary velocity. The velocity fluctuation can regulate lubricant quantity on the porous surface spontaneously, thereby forming a closed-loop adaptive lubrication system. The research can provide a theoretical basis for the lubricant supply behavior and the self-lubricating mechanism of the squeezed porous interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]