Effect of rotation in lubrication problems: Existence of more fundamental solutions

A generalized Reynolds equation is derived in the present paper by taking into account the effect of rotation in lubrication problems. The existence of certain fundamental solutions is shown in this extended framework which is not allowed in the classical Reynolds theory. Results concerning the pressure and the load capacity of the resulting bearing system are obtained and interpreted in the respective cases when the film thickness is a linear or an exponential functions of the coordinate along the bearing length. One of the important results is that while the load capacity decreases with increasing values of α for an exponentially inclined slider in the classical Reynolds theory, it increases with increasing values of α in the present context.