Beyond lubrication flow for thin-film manufacturing

Abstract

Reynolds’ hydrodynamic lubrication theory has been used extensively to analyze and quantify thin film manufacturing1 . Applications span liquid flows in bearings, coatings, and molds, and gas flows between rigid or elastic surfaces. To enable further applications of efficient, reduced-order modelling, we pursue streamlined algorithms for non-Newtonian liquids in marginally “thin” geometries with multiple phases and capillarity. The goal is expanded use of “modified”, non-traditional lubrication methods to bring physics-based knowledge to bear in process design, optimization, and control methods.

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