MHD couple stress squeeze film characteristics between sphere and plane surface

Abstract

In this paper, the effect of non-Newtonian couple stress fluids on the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) squeeze film characteristics between a sphere and a plane surface is analysed. By taking into account the couple stresses due to the presence of microstructure additives in the lubricant and the magnetic effects due to the magnetisation of the couple stress fluid, the non-Newtonian couple stress MHD Reynolds type equation is derived. The numerical solutions for the MHD squeeze film characteristics are presented for various values of couple stress parameter, and magnetic Hartmann number. The results indicate that the influences of couple stresses and the magnetic effects on the squeeze film characteristics are significantly apparent. It is concluded that the MHD couple stress fluids have better lubricating qualities than the corresponding Newtonian case. © 2011 W. S. Maney & Son Ltd.