Load enhancement effects by polymer-thickened oils in strip squeeze film flow

A modification to existing equipment is described which permits continuous squeeze-film flow to be obtained between parallel-sided strips of material rather than between disc-shaped surface. Squeeze film flow is simulated by having liquid move through one of the surfaces via an array of equispaced holes. The Squeeze-film behavior of a Newtonian base oil is first tested at temperatures of 24°C and 55°C. It is shwon that loads are in reasonable agreement with theretical predictions and that end effects (corrected by means of a guard ring) and fluid maldistribution effects are of small proporitons. At the very highest liquid flowrates, the rapid liquid flow through the holes may influence the measured load. The Polymer-thickened oils, representinhg 10 W/30 and 10 W/50 motor oils, are tested at temperatures of 24°C and 55°C. Both oils five marked load enhancement, compared with Newtonian oil under similar flow conditions, at the higher flowrates used. The 10 W/50 oil gives load enhancement of 76 per cent at 55°C, increasing rapidly with the simulated approach velocity. Fluid inertia effects in the squeeze film flow aslo increase the load significantly. The results confirm earlier data using disc-shaped surfaces; load enhancement is greater in the present work on strip squeeze films because the fluid deformation rates are greater (2000 s^t-1 in planar extention and 2 x 10⁵ s^t-1 in shear). It is suggested that the fuel consumption of cars could be improved by the development of elastic, shear stable oils of lower viscosity than those currently in use.