A numerical model of an oscillating squeeze film between a rubber surface and a rigid surface

A numerical model for the hydrodynamic behavior of an oscillating squeeze film between a rubber surface and a rigid surface is presented. The effects of roughness of the rubber surface on the hydrodynamic force and the leakage flow rate in the squeeze film are analyzed. A modified Reynolds equation, Laplace equation and a three-parameter viscoelastic constitutive equation are solved simultaneously to obtain the pressure distribution in the squeeze film and the deformation of the rubber surface. Equations are discretized into finite difference equations and solved by Gauss-Siedel iteration method. It is found that increasing roughness of the surface profile significantly increases the hydrodynamic force accompanied by a small decrease in the leakage now rate. Spatial distribution of the roughness of the rubber surface has no significant effect on the leakage flow rate or hydrodynamic force. The results obtained from the presented simple model are compared with the experimental results available in the literature and a very good agreement is found. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.