A MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF NONSTATIONARY MOTION OF A VISCOELASTIC FLUID IN ROLLER BEARINGS

Nowadays, the emergence of new lubricants requires an enhancement of the rheological models and methods used for solution of corresponding initial boundary-value problems. In particular, models that take into account viscoelastic properties are of great interest. In the present paper we consider the mathematical model of nonstationary motion of a viscoelastic fluid in roller bearings. We used the Maxwell fluid model for the modeling of fluid properties. The viscoelastic properties are exhibited by many lubricants that use polymer additives. In addition, viscoelastic properties can be essential at high fluid speeds. Also, viscoelastic properties can be significant in the case of thin gaps. Maxwell's model is one of the most common models of viscoelastic materials. It combines the relative simplicity of constitutive equations with the ability to describe a stress relaxation. In addition, viscoelastic fluids also allow us to describe some effects that are missing in the case of viscous fluid. An example it is worth to mention the Weissenberg effect and a number of others. In particular, such effects can be used to increase the efficiency of the film carrier in the sliding bearings. Here we introduced characteristic assumptions on the form of the flow, allowing to significantly simplify the solution of the problem. We consider so-called self-similar solutions, which allows us to get a solution in an analytical form. As a result these assumptions, the formulae for pressure and friction forces are derived. Their dependency on time and Deborah number is analyzed. The limiting values of the flow characteristics were obtained. The latter can be used for steady state of the flow regime. Differences from the case of Newtonian fluid are discussed. It is shown that viscoelastic properties are most evident at the initial stage of flow, when the effects of non-stationarity are most important.