Hydrodynamic Lubrication in a Nanoscale Bearing

Abstract

Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulation is used to simulate the hydrodynamics lubrication in the nanoscale bearing. A physical model of the nanascale bearing that the thin liquid water film confined between two solid walls has been set up. The simulation results indicate that the hydrodynamic pressure profiles as the macroscopic state are formed in nanoscale bearings. The hydrodynamic pressure increases with increasing shear velocity, and corresponding load capacity also increases with increasing sliding velocity of the upper driven wall. These results are in accordance with classical Reynolds’ theory about hydrodynamic lubrication. On the other hand, the shear thinning behavior of the liquid water film appears, so that effective viscosity decreases under high shear velocity. Although effective viscosity of water film decreases under high shear velocity, this phenomenon doesn’t affect the hydrodynamic lubrication of the nanoscale bearing.