Pressure and shear flow in a rough hydrodynamic bearing, flow factor calculation

The lubrication of isotropic rough surfaces has been studied numerically, and the flow factors given in the so-called Average Flow Model have been calculated. Both pressure pow and shear flow are considered. The pow factors are calculated from a small bearing part, and it is shown that the flow in the interior of this subarea is nearly unaffected by the bearing part's boundary conditions. The surface roughness is generated numerically, and the Reynolds equation is solved by the finite element method. The method used for calculating the flow factors call be used for different roughness patterns.