Theory of Lubrication With

Ferrofluids: Application to Short

Bearings
The momentum equations are written for viscous fluids exhibiting magnetic
Nicolae Tipei stresses. The velocity profiles are deduced; then from continuity, a pressure dif-
Mechanical Research Department, ferential equation, equivalent to Reynolds equation is obtained. This equation is
General Motors Research Laboratories, discussed with emphasis on the case when magnetic stresses derive from a potential,
Warren, Mich. 48090
also when the pyromagnetic coefficient vanishes. The boundary conditions for
lubrication problems are then formulated. In particular, short bearings with
ferromagnetic lubricants are considered. A numerical example yields the pressure
diagrams at low and moderate eccentricity ratios and for different speeds. In
conclusion, it is shown that ferromagnetic lubricants may improve substantially the
performance of bearings operating under low loads and/or at low speeds. However,
a correct variation of the magnetic field, toward the center of the lubricated area, is
required. Under such conditions, the extent of the active area of the film is increased
and bearing stiffness and stability are improved.

Introduction
The ferrofluids are colloidal suspensions of ferromagnetic
particles in a base fluid. The carrier fluid may be a diester
base, a hydrocarbon base, an ester base and even a water
base; other base fluids, less important for lubrication, are also
available. The particles are very small in size (about 100 A)
and coated with a surfactant (oleic acid) to prevent
coagulation; therefore, the ferrofluids are very stable and
practically no separation or precipitation occurs. Under an
applied magnetic field, the particles are oriented and become
the loci of magnetic forces. The contact phenomena at the
surface between the solid particles and the liquid carrier
disseminate the magnetic stresses in the mass of the ferrofluid.
Therefore, a new kind of body forces is introduced when the
motion of the fluid is considered. The density and the
viscosity of magnetic suspensions differ from those of the
base fluid, as the particle concentration and magnetization
increases.
Ferrofluids were prepared during the last decade and
studied first by Neuringer and Rosensweig [1], Cowley and
Rosensweig [2], and Rosensweig, Kaiser and Miskolczy [3],
Rosensweig [4], and later by Shliomis [5]. Although many
possible applications were considered, only a few and in-
cidental references were made to the field of lubrication. A
paper of Tarapov [6] deals with the motion of a magnetizable
fluid in the lubricating films of infinitely long bearings, also
taking into account the energy equation under some drastic
approximations.
In the present work the general momentum equations are
analyzed under the assumption that ferrofluids still behave as
Contributed by the Lubrication Division of THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF
MECHANICAL ENGINEERS and presented at the ASLE-ASME Joint Lubrication
Conference, New Orleans, La., October 4-7, 1981. Manuscript received by the
Lubrication Division, March 10,1981. Paper No. 81-Lub-39.
newtonian fluids. The velocity and pressure fields for thin
ferrofluid films are then obtained, thus allowing viscosity,
magnetization, and magnetic field strength as coordinate
functions. A separate study of the energy equation, not shown
in this paper, would provide a complete solution for the
coupled momentum and energy equations, as was already
done for viscous, nonmagnetic films. Meanwhile, the short
bearing case, studied in the following analysis yields, besides
particular aspects, some general trends and clues for the use
of ferrofluids as lubricants. Therefore, the objective of this
paper is to show whether or not they are proper for use in
lubrication, and determine the range of their applications,
with emphasis on the bearing load-carrying capacity.
Momentum Equations for Magnetic Viscous Fluids
A fluid containing small particles of magnetic materials in
suspension is subject to electromagnetic forces when an
electric field is applied. Assuming the direction of
magnetization is in the direction of the local field, the force
per unit volume is [1], [2]
/ m = ^(M'.V)5C = Mo(MV3C)(JCV)3C (1)
and if the displacement current is negligible V x 3C = 0, then
(1) yields
f 1
fm= -Mo(M*/3C)V(3C.3C) = ^0M*v3C (2)
Therefore, the Navier-Stokes equations are, in a vectorial
form, [7], [8]
p —- + ( W ) v = - V/7+[V(2/iV)]v+V X(/*V xv)
•V[At(W)] + /to-^*V3C (3)

510/Vol. 104, OCTOBER 1982 Transactions of the ASME

Copyright © 1982 by ASME
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 The magnetic particles are usually very small solid particles as BT dX dT dx\ . / ar dx dX\ dT
a suspension in a non-magnetic liquid. Therefore, V «v = 0, 2 3 ) ) OO)
V dx3 d.^ dX\ dx3/ V 3^! dx2 9x2 d*i
and if inertia forces are small with respect to viscous forces,
equation (3) becomes In order to take advantage of the effects of both
magnetization and applied field, usually a field variation is
Vp = 2(V/xV)v+ VjiX(V Xv)-/*V X(V Xv) + ^ 0 M*V3C taken upon a direction either parallel or perpendicular to the
(4) relative motion of the film boundaries. Therefore, dSC/dx2 is
Under the usual assumptions for thin fluid films, we have small with respect to dX./dxl or dSC/dx^, while dT/dx2 > >
dp d / dVi \ . ... dX dT/dxi > dT/dX) and equation (10) is approximately
, (n-^-)+noM*- ; i = i,3. (5)
dxt dx2 \ dx2 / oXj
dT dX dT dX dT , , (^ 2»
In the equations above, p is the effective pressure in the V T x v3C = i, I V3Cle
fluid, i.e., the pressure p ( 0 ) obtained when X = 0, and the dx2 dx? dx-, dx. dx2
contribution of normal stresses due to magnetization [2]
• 3C
tana= (dK/dxi)/(dX./dxl). (11)
p=p
(0).

1 ft) Pi :
dPs
dK.

Equations (3)-(5) show that pressures are induced by the

(6) Assuming now (dp/dx2) = 0, v2 = 0 the pressure gradient
lies in the plane O x , ^ ; with respect to the pressure
distribution and to the velocity vector the problem becomes
magnetic field in the direction of the field variation and no bidimensional, and the normal component of V x v is
magnetic forces are generated if the applied field is constant negligible. Hence the viscous forces are likely to derive from a
[1]. The last term of equation (5) is affected by the integrand potential, as shown immediately by the expressions of the
HQM*, which is a coordinate function and is generally velocity components, with a parabolic variation across the
represented by a compound lamellar vector. However, it may film [9]. Similarly, equations (5), (7), and (11) show that by
be assumed as deriving from a potential if neglecting the component of ix0M* V 3C and V x {/*0M* V X}
Vx(/i 0 M*V3C) = 0 (7) upon the x2 axis and considering again a bidimensional flow,
7 the components of the electromagnetic force in (5) can be
The value of /t0 = 47r»10" is constant, while M*(JC,T) is a considered as deriving from a gradient containing x2 as a
function depending both on the field intensity and tem- parameter
perature, thus
„ dX dp*
VAf* = (3M*/33C)V3C + ( 9 M * / a r ) v r (8) llQM*T-=-^-; /=1,3, (12)
OXj dX)
After elementary manipulations, from (7) and (8), we obtain
the condition where M* is a function of X and x2 or only a function of X
dM* averaged across the film.
—— V 7 X V 3 C = 0 (9)
dT Velocity Profiles
which can be fulfilled either if the pyromagnetic coefficient is Let us consider the expressions
zero or the gradients V T a n d V3C are parallel [1]. The last
condition is generally not satisfied in thin hydrodynamic dx2
— dx2;I\ =IX2=o\h =IX2=h', h = j —:
films, for the main temperature variation is across the film
while the field varies upon the other two directions. However, /oi=/o(0);/ 0 2 =/o(/0
the magnetization may be considered temperature in- (13)
dependent for certain magnetic fluids. #o; = /*o M^-r-dx2;Vi = —dx2\vu = v, (.v 2 =0)>
Let us consider the components of AT x VX J OX; J U.
/ dT dX dT dX\
v r x VJC \ dx2 dx3 dx-i dx2 ' then, from (5) the velocity is

Nomenclature
A = nondimensional relationship, defined in
(18)
B = nondimensional relationship, defined in
(18)
b = bearing width; extent of the active zone (p
>p0), m
c = bearing clearance, m
fm = magnetic force per unit volume, N m - 3
G(Xi ,X3) = expression defined in (26), dimensionless
H=h/h2= dimensionless film thickness
h = film thickness, m
h2 = minimum film thickness, m
X = magnetic field vector, A m " 1
JC = magnetic field strength, A m " 1
3C0 = magnetic field strength at bearing ends, A
m"1
X = magnetic field strength in the median
section of the bearing, A m " 1
/ = integral defined in (13), m 4 N " 1 s " 1
A./j =values of I, defined i n ( 1 3 ) , m 4 N 1 s " 1
^01.^02 = values of I, defined in (13), m 4 N ~ 1 s " 1
i = unit vector, dimensionless
; = subscript for coordinate or for magnitudes
and components referred to x,
30i = integral defined in (13), H A 2 w " 3
j = subscript
/=bearing length, m
M=ix//xl = nondimensional viscosity
M* = magnetization vector, AT m " '
M* = magnetization strength, ATm ~'
M*„ = magnetization component, normal to a
surface, ATm " '
n = exponent
P=ph2/6ixi Vb = dimensionless pressure
P0 = dimensionless ambient pressure
P* =p*h2/6jx.\ Vb = dimensionless value of p*
p = pressure, Pa
p0 = ambient pressure, Pa
p* = pressure induced by the magnetic field, Pa
p=p—p* = effective pressure due to magnetic stresses,
when V3C = 0, Pa
p^0) = film pressure when X = 0, Pa
r, = journal radius, m

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 lo — h
Vi = vu + v*u - y,* + (f2,- -£;„• + y|,- - v *u)
-4j:^-[(i:^)/(i:^)]i:^}-
(18)
+r/-/,-^f (/o-/o.)if (14) Equation (17) is the counterpart of the usual Reynolds
L /02-/01 J d*; equation for nonmagnetic viscous films. The supplementary
or, when it = const, terms due to the magnetic particles are functions of the
X2 1 3/7 velocities V*, V2*, K, *, as given by equations (13).
y , = f i ; + (vv-vu) — + — —x2(x2-h) +vti-Vi* For constant viscosity, M = 1, and by assuming conditions
h 2/x dXi
usually met in lubrication Va = V2i = Va = Oand Vu = 1,
equations (17) and (18) yield
(15)
h
u,(0) is the nonmagnetic velocity for the same pressure 1 3
distribution, as given by the first three terms in (15), and v] is 2 JX:
[(K|,. + n + i)//)-Aj% /W2
the velocity induced by the magnetic field in a ferrofluid.
Equations (15) give the velocity distribution in the general
(19)
case; if, following the previous considerations, the 2 dX, V dX, )
relationship (12) is used, then

v* = j ( — j Vp*dx2^dx2. (16) A Particular Case

Let us assume the pyromagnetic coefficient (3M*/3T) = 0.
Equation (9) shows that the magnetic forces derive from a
Pressure Differential Equation potential p* (12); furthermore, if (dX./dX2) = 0, which is
Continuity yields the pressure equation by integration usually satisfied for thin films, then/?* is independent of X2
across the film. Using equation (14) and performing the and has properties similar to the pressure. Thus, equation (5)
differentiation under the integral sign and introducing the becomes
nondimensional values for v, v*, h, /x, xit and x2 we have d(p-p*)_dp _ d / dVi\

^vn-v^±[{vt-vu+n-m\"Adx^ ~~a^~-a^-a£V*a^ ''~1,3 (20)

and, generally speaking, all the known solutions of the

pressure distribution can be used by replacing p — p* by p.
+H This simple result shows that the pressures are higher upon the
dX, directions where a positive gradient dp*/dxt exists. Therefore
(17) it is advisable, in bearing construction, to ensure a positive
dH d
[ " d(HVu) gradient of the applied magnetic field in the regions where the
<V2i-Vu) dX2 +
dX, dX/ pressure due to viscous effects is also increasing.
Let p be the effective pressure in a nonmagnetic film (V 3C
d / dP fH \ = 0) with the same viscosity it. From (20) is obtained
p=P+p* (21)
imation and
where /' means summation and
and for a bearing of width b and length /, if the plane QXXX2
is located at the mid-section, then the usual boundary con-
Im-Ito \J° M //VJo M ) ditions are

Nomenclature (cont.)

T= temperature, K x2 = coordinate perpendicular to ' a solid

^=time, s
V= reference velocity, m s "'
Vjj = Vjj/V = nondimensional velocity at x2 = 0
(/'= l ) , a n d x 2 = A ( / = 2), / = 1.2.3
V* = v*/ V — nondimensional value of v*
Vf,:= values of V* for x2 = 0 (/' = 1) and x2 =
AC/= 2)
v = velocity vector, m s '
v* = magnetic velocity vector, defined in (16), m
boundary, m
Xi = coordinate perpendicular to X\ and x2, m
/3 = dimensionless coefficient, defined in (33)
e = bearing eccentricity ratio
d=Xi //•] = angle measured from the center line
\ = l/b = bearing length-width (active zone extent)
ratio, dimensionless
H = viscosity, P a s
it0 =47r»10~ = free space permeability, H m - 1
7

s- 1 m = reference viscosity, Pa s
(0)
u, = velocity component due to viscous forces, fil0 = dynamic viscosity of base fluid, Pa s
fils = dynamic viscosity of the ferrofluid, for 3C
v* = integral defined in (13), VAN ~' (m s ~') = 0, Pa s
yy* =values of v* defined in (13),/' = 1,2, ii 1H = dynamic viscosity of the ferrofluid, under
VAN-'(mr') an applied magnetic field 5C, Pa s
v* = velocity component due to magnetic field, v = exponent
m/s Po = density of the base fluid, kg m ~3
Xj =Xi/b = nondimensional coordinate p s = density of the magnetic suspension, kg m ~3
X2 =x2/h2 = nondimensional coordinate a (T) = temperature function in magnetization
Xi = coordinate parallel to the relative velocity formula (29), dimensionless
of the solid surfaces, m V = gradient

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 Theory of Lubrication With
Ferrofluids: Application to Short
Bearings
The momentum equations are written for viscous fluids exhibiting magnetic
Nicolae Tipei stresses. The velocity profiles are deduced; then from continuity, a pressure dif-
Mechanical Research Department, ferential equation, equivalent to Reynolds equation is obtained. This equation is
General Motors Research Laboratories, discussed with emphasis on the case when magnetic stresses derive from a potential,
Warren, Mich. 48090
also when the pyromagnetic coefficient vanishes. The boundary conditions for
lubrication problems are then formulated. In particular, short bearings with
ferromagnetic lubricants are considered. A numerical example yields the pressure
diagrams at low and moderate eccentricity ratios and for different speeds. In
conclusion, it is shown that ferromagnetic lubricants may improve substantially the
performance of bearings operating under low loads and/or at low speeds. However,
a correct variation of the magnetic field, toward the center of the lubricated area, is
required. Under such conditions, the extent of the active area of the film is increased
and bearing stiffness and stability are improved.

Introduction
The ferrofluids are colloidal suspensions of ferromagnetic
particles in a base fluid. The carrier fluid may be a diester
base, a hydrocarbon base, an ester base and even a water
base; other base fluids, less important for lubrication, are also
available. The particles are very small in size (about 100 A)
and coated with a surfactant (oleic acid) to prevent
coagulation; therefore, the ferrofluids are very stable and
practically no separation or precipitation occurs. Under an
applied magnetic field, the particles are oriented and become
the loci of magnetic forces. The contact phenomena at the
surface between the solid particles and the liquid carrier
disseminate the magnetic stresses in the mass of the ferrofluid.
Therefore, a new kind of body forces is introduced when the
motion of the fluid is considered. The density and the
viscosity of magnetic suspensions differ from those of the
base fluid, as the particle concentration and magnetization
increases.
Ferrofluids were prepared during the last decade and
studied first by Neuringer and Rosensweig [1], Cowley and
Rosensweig [2], and Rosensweig, Kaiser and Miskolczy [3],
Rosensweig [4], and later by Shliomis [5]. Although many
possible applications were considered, only a few and in-
cidental references were made to the field of lubrication. A
paper of Tarapov [6] deals with the motion of a magnetizable
fluid in the lubricating films of infinitely long bearings, also
taking into account the energy equation under some drastic
approximations.
In the present work the general momentum equations are
analyzed under the assumption that ferrofluids still behave as
Contributed by the Lubrication Division of THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF
MECHANICAL ENGINEERS and presented at the ASLE-ASME Joint Lubrication
Conference, New Orleans, La., October 4-7, 1981. Manuscript received by the
Lubrication Division, March 10,1981. Paper No. 81-Lub-39.
newtonian fluids. The velocity and pressure fields for thin
ferrofluid films are then obtained, thus allowing viscosity,
magnetization, and magnetic field strength as coordinate
functions. A separate study of the energy equation, not shown
in this paper, would provide a complete solution for the
coupled momentum and energy equations, as was already
done for viscous, nonmagnetic films. Meanwhile, the short
bearing case, studied in the following analysis yields, besides
particular aspects, some general trends and clues for the use
of ferrofluids as lubricants. Therefore, the objective of this
paper is to show whether or not they are proper for use in
lubrication, and determine the range of their applications,
with emphasis on the bearing load-carrying capacity.
Momentum Equations for Magnetic Viscous Fluids
A fluid containing small particles of magnetic materials in
suspension is subject to electromagnetic forces when an
electric field is applied. Assuming the direction of
magnetization is in the direction of the local field, the force
per unit volume is [1], [2]
/ m = ^(M'.V)5C = Mo(MV3C)(JCV)3C (1)
and if the displacement current is negligible V x 3C = 0, then
(1) yields
f 1
fm= -Mo(M*/3C)V(3C.3C) = ^0M*v3C (2)
Therefore, the Navier-Stokes equations are, in a vectorial
form, [7], [8]
p —- + ( W ) v = - V/7+[V(2/iV)]v+V X(/*V xv)
•V[At(W)] + /to-^*V3C (3)

510/Vol. 104, OCTOBER 1982 Transactions of the ASME

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136°
Fig. 2 Pressure polar diagram, c = 0.5
Formulae (33), (34), and the definition relationship for P
show that the actual value of the pressure p has two parts.
One is due to viscous stresses and depends on the actual
viscosity, relative velocity, and bearing geometry. The other
part, containing the magnetic effects, merely depends on the
magnetic field and magnetization. The ferromagnetic par-
ticles as a suspension modify the viscosity of the fluid carrier
from its initial value ^, 0 to ^ l s . The value of ^u is a function
of particle concentration [3], which also characterizes the
value of the saturation magnetization. Therefore, the
saturation magnetization may be a measure for the con-
centration and a variable to define fils, the viscosity in the
absence of a magnetic field, hence without any orientation of
solid particles. The presence of a field immediately generates
an orientation; this produces a second variation of the
viscosity from /xls to n1H, which is a function of both the
applied field and magnetization, by means of the parameter
?)^,o/M*3C, as shown in [3].
Hence, the viscous stresses largely depend on magnetic
parameters for they cause a viscosity variation. If ^ 10 is used
for JXI to obtain the nondimensional values P of the pressure,
then the nondimensional viscous terms, apparently in-
dependent of viscosity, must be multiplied by the ratio ^ //x10
of the actual and reference viscosities. On the contrary, the
magnetic parameter /3, with /x, = nw in the demoninator,
remains constant, as long as the other factors in (33) do not
vary.
On the basis of these considerations, and using the pressure
formula (34) the polar diagrams in Fig. 1 (e = 0.1) and Fig. 2
(e = 0.5) were plotted, showing the dimensionless pressure
variation versus the position angle measured from the cen-
terline. With the value of r/ s (Vu/c) = co^j/c) = co X
1 0 \ the parameter 10Sjtn 0 /M*3C = 1.226 cox 10" s (or78.4
co in CGS units) is calculated, therefore, (JI\H/IL\S) = 1 for
both co = 180 s" 1 and co = 18 s _ 1 [3]. This is due to the fact
that at normal shear rates the particle orientation is no longer
stable.
The curves 1 in Figs. 1 and 2 represent the variation of P —
514 / Vol. 104, OCTOBER 1982
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Pt, for /3 = 0, n = ixw, hence for the basic fluid in the absence
of magnetic effects, while the dash-point curves 2 exhibit the
effect of solid particles in suspension, also without any
magnetic field. The following curves, 3 and 4 in Fig. 1, show
the total pressure variation under the applied magnetic field
for to = 180 s - ' and to = 1 8 s - 1 . The radial distance between
2 and 3 corresponds to the pressure due only to magnetic
effects, for co = 180 s _ 1 , and it shows that for speeds of this
order the magnetic pressure is about 4.6 percent of the
maximum global pressure and 19 percent of the maximum
pressure in the base liquid. At higher eccentricities, the
relative contribution of the magnetic stresses is lower, such
that for co = 180 s~' curves 2 and 3 are almost superposed.
Therefore in Fig. 2 only curve 2 was plotted.
At lower speeds, for instance co = 18 s _ 1 , curve 3 is
replaced in both figures by curve 4. Therefore, for e = 0.1 the
magnetic pressure is relatively much higher, i.e., 32.8 percent
of the maximum total pressure and 189 percent of the
maximum pressure obtained when using only the base fluid.
Although less visible, differences can be seen in Fig. 2 (e =
0.5), where the respective values are 3.6 percent and 13.6
percent
However, it should be recalled that the diagrams concern
only the dimensionless pressure coefficient, and the real
values are directly dependent on speed; otherwise the relative
positioning of the curves at different co could be misin-
terpreted. This is due to the fact that the viscosity ratio
/^IH/^IS is speed dependent and that magnetic and viscous
stresses are functions of different physical parameters. Ac-
tually, at lower speeds the contribution of viscosity
diminishes, whereas the magnetic forces are constant. Similar
effects are obtained by increasing the relative clearance or by
using lubricants with lower viscosity. On the contrary, by
increasing the strength of the applied field, the absolute load-
carrying capacity becomes higher, concomitantly with the
magnetic stresses.
Figures 1 and 2 show that magnetic stresses, in this case
independent of the position angle, enlarge the active area of
the bearing. Hence for co = 18 the center angle of this area
(curves 6) increases from 180 to 242 deg (e = 0.1) or 205° (e
= 0.5). This is another effect related to the increase of the
load-carrying capacity. By varying (3, a maximum is reached,
when the pressure curve becomes tangent to the zero line at
one point, then the pressure resultant remains constant.
On the other hand, the resulting dimension of the cavitation
area, as for externally pressurized bearings, and the viscosity
increase contribute to bearing stiffness and stability.
Conclusions
The preceding analysis yields some relevant aspects,
concerning the effectiveness of using bearing lubricants with
magnetic particles in suspension, in the presence of a magnetic
field. They can be condensed as follows:
1. Generally speaking, the effect of magnetic particles is to
increase the load-carrying capacity. Under reasonable values
of applied magnetic fields (105 - 106 A/m), this effect is
significant for bearings operating at low speeds, or with large
clearances, or with low viscosity lubricants and becomes
relatively larger with respect to viscous forces as these
parameters are reduced in value.
2. The additional pressure is due to both magnetic stresses
and increased viscosity. Noticeable results are reached when
their combined effect is compared to the pressure distribution
obtained by using the base fluid without magnetic suspensions
or by disconnecting the magnetic field.
3. To obtain an increase of load capacity, gradients of the
applied field are necessary, such that the magnetic field
reaches a maximum inside the active zone of the bearing. A
Transactions of the ASME
 decreased load capacity is obtained if the field strength at the
boundaries is higher than in the active area.
4. With increasing value of the magnetic field parameter,
j8, the extent of the load-carrying region becomes larger. This
effect, together with the increased pressure, contributes to
higher load values.
5. For an axial symmetric applied field, the pressure
resultant reaches a maximum value at a definite value of /3,
beyond which the carried load remains constant.
6. The bearing stiffness and stability are influenced by the
magnetic suspensions, and a first qualitative estimate suggests
that an improvement of both can be expected.
Acknowledgments
The author thanks Donald F. Hays for his suggestion on
starting this work and for his stimulating interest in this
problem. Also thanks are due to Richard J. Coleman for
providing useful data and for his help in clarifying several
aspects of the physics of ferrofluids.
DISCUSSION
R. E. Rosensweig1
This paper carefully analyzes the flow field of a short
hydrodynamic bearing to account for the presence of
magnetic fluid lubricant and applied magnetic field. The
principal new features taken into account over and above
conventional bearing analyses are the existence of magnetic
field gradient forces, magnetic interfacial stress difference
when a normal component of magnetization is present, and
magnetically induced changes of the fluid viscosity.
A general discussion includng some analysis of broad types
of new bearings made possible with magnetic fluids is
available in the literature [1]. Recognized configurations are
either hydrostatic or hydrodynamic in nature, with monofluid
and bifluid types in both categories. State-of-art load support
of 0.15 psi in a hydrostatic monofluid bearing and 4 psi in a
hydrostatic bifluid bearing has been demonstrated;
"ultimate"capability of 120 psi and 960 psi are estimated.
Both hydrostatic types operate passively. The hydrodynamic
types are capable of greater load support but don't support
loads passively. This is probably not important except in
instrumentation. The hydrodynamic types can be useful in
applications where the magnetic fluid is attracted back to the
working gap thus eliminating mechanical means to achieve
recirculation.
Studies such as the present one are important in quantifying
the effects to be obtained and for providing a systematic
methodology. A direction for further refinement of the
analysis is to account for the field of antisymmetric stress in
the ferrofluid and the influence of shear rate on it. [2]
Exxon Corporate Research, Linden, N.J. 07036.
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References
1 Neuringer, J. L., and Rosensweig, R. E., "Ferrohydrodynamics," The
Physics of Fluids, Vol. 7, No. 12, Dec. 1964, p. 1927.
2 Cowley, M. D., and Rosensweig, R. E., "The Interfacial Stability of a
Ferromagnetic Fluid," J. FluidMech., Vol. 30, Part 4, 1967, p. 671.
3 Rosensweig, R. E., Kaiser, R., and Miskolczy, G., "Viscosity of
Magnetic Fluid in a Magnetic Field," Journal of Colloid and Interface Science,
Vol. 29, No. 4, Apr. 1969, p. 680.
4 Rosensweig, R. E., "Ferrohydrodynamics," The Encyclopaedic Dic-
tionary of Physics, Pergamon Press, 1974.
5 Shliomis, M. T., "Magnetic Fluids," Sov. Phys.-Usp., Vol. 17, No. 2,
Sept.-Oct. 1974, p. 153.
6 Tarapov. T. E., "Movement of a Magnetizable Fluid in the Lubricating
Layer of a Cylindrical Bearing," Magnitnaya Gidrodinamika, No. 4, Oct.-Dec.
1972, p. 19.
7 Milne-Thomson, L. M., Theoretical Hydrodynamics, 5th Ed., The
MacMillan Company, New York, 1968, p. 641.
8 Tipei, N., Theory of Lubrication, Stanford University Press, Stanford,
California, 1962, p. 22, 41.
9 Lamb, H., Hydrodynamics, 6th Ed., Dover Publications, New York,
1945, p. 582.
10 Dubois, G. B., and Ockvirk, F. W., "Short Bearing Approximation for
Full Journal Bearings," NACAT.N. 2809, Washington, D.C., Nov. 1952.
Additional References
1 Rosensweig, R. E., "Phenomena and Relationships of Magnetic Fluid
Bearings," in Thermomechanics of Magnetic Fluids, B. Berkovsky, ed.
Washington, D.C.: Hemisphere, 1978, pp. 231-254.
2 Condiff, D. W., and Dahler, J. S„ Phys. Fluids, Vol. 7, 1964, p. 842.
Recent work of Soviet authors appears in the journal Magnetohydrodynamics,
Translation from Russian, Consultants Bureau, New York.
Author's Closure
The author would like to thank Dr. Rosensweig for the
valuable comments. He agrees with the fact that refinements
of the existing theories can be obtained by a closer look at the
rheological properties of ferrofluids. The momentum and the
moment of momentum equations may be complemented by
the introduction of the particle spin vector and the couple
stress tensor, as for micropolar fluids.1 However, the effect
that the applied magnetic field and the resultant particle
orientation have on the freedom of the particles to spin has to
be analyzed. To complete the analysis, new material
parameters are then introduced, whose experimental deter-
mination presents serious challenge.
In the general case, this may lead to developments too long
to be practically used in applications. In this paper, an at-
tempt is made to present a theory of hydrodynamic
lubrication under the usual approximations and existing data,
since the author feels it is still a little explored domain.
1
Nicolae Tipei, "Lubrication with Micropolar Liquids and its Application to
Short Bearings," ASME JOURNAL OF LUBRICATION TECHNOLOGY, Vol. 101, July
1979, pp.356-363.
OCTOBER 1982. Vol. 104/515