Derivation of two-dimensional non-Newtonian Reynolds equation and application to power-law film slider bearings: Rabinowitsch fluid model

Abstract Newtonian lubricants blended with additives (polymer-thickened oils, viscosity index improver, polyisobutylene, etc.) display non-Newtonian dilatant and pseudo-plastic properties. Based upon the Rabinowitsch fluid model, a nonlinear non-Newtonian Reynolds equation has been derived for the study of sliding bearings, in which the general two-dimensional film profile is h = h(x,y,t) . Several special cases can be recovered from the present derivation. A steady power-law curved film slider bearing with Rabinowitsch fluids is illustrated. First-order solutions of bearing performances are obtained and discussed through the variation of the nonlinear parameter, the film shape index and the inlet-outlet height ratio.