Analysis of a free boundary problem in partial lubrication

Abstract

Hydrodynamic lubrication is concerned with a particular form of creeping flow between surfaces in relative motion where cavitation takes place. The determination of the free boundary of the cavitation area is then of fundamental importance for the computation of the characteristics of the mechanisms. Different conditions at the free boundary have been introduced. We study two of them and compare corresponding solutions with respect to film extent and pressure repartition.