Patterns formed in a thin film with spatially homogeneous and non-homogeneous Derjaguin disjoining pressure

We consider patterns formed in a two-dimensional thin film on a planar substrate with a Derjaguin disjoining pressure and periodic wettability stripes. We rigorously clarify some of the results obtained numerically by Honisch et al. [Langmuir 31: 10618–10631, 2015] and embed them in the general theory of thin-film equations. For the case of constant wettability, we elucidate the change in the global structure of branches of steady-state solutions as the average film thickness and the surface tension are varied. Specifically we find, by using methods of local bifurcation theory and the continuation software package AUTO, both nucleation and metastable regimes. We discuss admissible forms of spatially non-homogeneous disjoining pressure, arguing for a form that differs from the one used by Honisch et al., and study the dependence of the steady-state solutions on the wettability contrast in that case.

Non-negative Martingale Solutions to the Stochastic Thin-Film Equation with Nonlinear Gradient Noise

We prove the existence of non-negative martingale solutions to a class of stochastic degenerate-parabolic fourth-order PDEs arising in surface-tension driven thin-film flow influenced by thermal noise. The construction applies to a range of mobilites including the cubic one which occurs under the assumption of a no-slip condition at the liquid-solid interface. Since their introduction more than 15 years ago, by Davidovitch, Moro, and Stone and by Grün, Mecke, and Rauscher, the existence of solutions to stochastic thin-film equations for cubic mobilities has been an open problem, even in the case of sufficiently regular noise. Our proof of global-in-time solutions relies on a careful combination of entropy and energy estimates in conjunction with a tailor-made approximation procedure to control the formation of shocks caused by the nonlinear stochastic scalar conservation law structure of the noise.

Squeeze film dampers supporting high-speed rotors: Fluid inertia effects

This work represents closed-form analytical expressions for the operating parameters for short-length open-ended squeeze film dampers, including the lubricant velocity profiles, hydrodynamic pressure distribution, and lubricant reaction forces. The proposed closed-form expressions provide an accelerated calculation of the squeeze film damper parameters, specifically for rotordynamics applications. In order to determine the analytical solutions for the squeeze film damper parameters, the thin film equations for lubricant are introduced in the presence of the influence of lubricant inertia. Subsequently, two different analytical techniques, namely the momentum approximation method, and the perturbation method are applied to the thin film equations. Moreover, the solution for the lubricant flow equations are analytically determined to represent closed-form expressions for the hydrodynamic pressure distribution and the velocity component profiles in squeeze film dampers. Additionally, the expressions for the hydrodynamic pressure distribution are integrated over the journal surface, either numerically or analytically by using Booker’s integrals, to develop expressions for the fluid film reaction forces. Lastly, the developed squeeze film damper models are incorporated into simulation models in Matlab and Simulink®, and the results are compared against a well-established force coefficient model to verify the accuracy of the calculations. The results of the simulations verify the effect of the lubricant inertia components, namely the convective and temporal (i.e., unsteady) inertia components on the squeeze film damper dynamics, including hydrodynamic pressure distribution and fluid film reaction forces. Additionally, the simulation results suggest a close agreement between the proposed models and the results in the literature.