Performance of Infinitely Wide Parabolic and Inclined Slider Bearings Lubricated with Couple Stress or Magnetic Fluids

Abstract

The hydrodynamic and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) lubrication problem of infinitely wide inclined and parabolic slider bearings is solved numerically using the finite element method. The bearing configurations are discretized into three‐node isoparametric quadratic elements. Stiffness integrals obtained from the weak form of the governing equations are solved using Gauss quadrature to obtain a finite number of stiffness matrices. The global system of equations obtained from enforcing nodal continuity of pressure for the bearings are solved using the Gauss‐Seidel iterative scheme with a convergence criterion of 10−10. Numerical computations reveal that, when compared for similar profile and couple stress parameters, greater pressure builds up in a parabolic slider compared to an inclined slider, indicating a greater wedge effect in the parabolic slider. The parabolic slider bearing is also shown to develop a greater load capacity when lubricated with magnetic fluids. The superior performance of parabolic slid...