Application of the Navier-Stokes equation in Tribology applications

[ste234]

I was given an assignment in my Fluid Mechanics Module with the title:
Application of the Navier-Stokes Equations in Tribology Applications

Yet the lecture has given no starting point and we haven't yet done anything to do with Navier-Stokes

Can anyone help me on where to start?

 

[LawrenceC]

Tribology has to do with lubrication, wear, and friction. Bearings are designed with a layer of lubricant between the surfaces so the actual surfaces do not touch when in motion. The forces that keep the bearing surfaces apart are determined by solutions to the Navier Stokes equation. The NS equations involve velocities, pressure, viscosity and are very challenging to solve.