Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Mechanics Of Clearance In A Non-Newtonian Lubrication Layer, Bong Jae Chung, Douglas Platt, Ashuwin Vaidya

Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This paper investigates the mechanics of clearance of an embedded particle in a lubrication layer of viscoelastic fluid. We show theoretically that in a slider bearing domain containing a viscoelastic fluid, the oscillating shearing motion of a wall aids in transporting away any embedded particle towards the moving boundary. The impact of geometry and material properties of the fluid layer are explored by coupling theoretical and numerical methods. Our approach suggests a possible mechanism by which the human eye could clear out any debris beneath the eyelid, under responsive blinking. Our simplified analysis brings to bear interesting approaches from physics …