Squeeze flow of a power-law fluid between two rigid spheres with wall slip

Abstract

The effect of wall slip on the squeeze flow of a power-law fluid between two rigid spherical particles has been examined based on the Reynolds lubrication theory. It is shown that the viscous force arising from the squeeze flow with wall slip may be resolved to the noslip solution by introducing a slip correction coefficient. An expression for the slip correction coefficient of force is derived which is related to the slip parameter, the flow index and the upper limit of integration. Generally, wall slip results in a reduction in the viscous force. The reduction in the viscous force increases as the flow index increases, suggesting that wall slip has a more profound effect on shear thickening material. However, such reduction decreases as the upper limit of integration increases from finite liquid bridges to fully immersed systems. The reduction in the viscous force also increases as the slip parameter increases, which is the expected behaviour.