During the operation of hydrodynamically lubricated devices a fully formulated lubricant has the ability to form layers at the surfaces. Such layers alter the interaction between the lubricant and the surface that definitely will influence the performance of the lubricated device.To gain fundamental understanding, models that address the formation of layers and the altered liquid – solid interaction, but also models that may be used to study the effects of existing layers are required. In this paper, non-Newtonian lubricant rheology models that may be used to resemble layers of variable shear strength – wall-slip specifically – are considered for the simulation of the piston ring - cylinder liner lubrication problem.The effects induced by this type of layering are studied by using a modified Reynold’s equation where the coefficients have been corrected with factors that accounts for layer properties. This enables, effectively, studies of immobile layers as well as wall-slip in the lubricated conjunction between a piston ring and a cylinder liner.
Godkänd; 2008; 20090601 (almqvist)