Ultra-thin lubricating films under transient conditions

The mechanism of fluid film lubrication in ultra-thin conjunctions under counterformal concentrated circular point contacts is discussed in this paper. The significance of squeeze film action in increased load carrying capacity is highlighted. The numerical predictions made in acceleration-deceleration motion of a ball against a flat race is found to conform with the experimental findings of other research workers for polar branched lubricants down to a film thickness in the region of 20 nm. This conformance with the experimental findings has enabled a fundamental understanding of the multi-physics of film formation when conditions promoting the formation of ultra-thin films of the order of few nanometres have been employed, with the use of a non-polar lubricant. This paper provides the first ever solution of the combined effect of viscous, surface and molecular forces under transient conditions.