Micropolarity—Roughness Interaction in Hydrodynamic Lubrication

Abstract

The paper describes a theoretical analysis of micropolarity-roughness interaction. A modified Reynolds’ type equation for a rough surface based on micropolar fluid theory is developed and is applied to the case of a fixed inclined slider, having a one-dimensional roughness pattern in the direction transverse to sliding. The analysis shows that the inclusion of surface roughness in the theory causes an increase in the pressure level, over and above the micropolar level. However, these additional increases are of a smaller order and are not likely to mask the increases caused by additives and surface forces (characterized by micropolarity) as is conjectured by some earlier workers.