An approximate analysis of fluid inertia effects in axisymmetric laminar squeeze film flow at arbitrary Reynolds number

An approximate analytical solution is developed for the squeezing flow of a film of fluid between two disks, taking into account fluid inertia effects. The solution is based on slug flow linearization of the convective inertia terms, and is thus valid for any Reynolds number in laminar flow. The results are limited, however, to cases where the disk acceleration is small. Results show the remarkable linearity (with Reynolds number) of the inertia correction factor, continuing to very high Re. In fact, the high Reynolds number limit deviates only slightly from the low Reynolds number limit (for squeezing). The solution for reverse squeezing (plate separating) exhibits highly anomalous behavior at moderate to high Reynolds number, similar to that found by other investigators (Wang, 1976; Schlichting, 1960).