Derivation of Reynolds equation

The following assumptions have to be considered:

1. Body forces are neglected. This means that there are no inertial or other distributed forces
acting on the fluid. The effect of gravity of the fluid is neglected
2. The pressure of the fluid is assumed constant across the thickness of the film.
3. The curvature of the surfaces is large compared to the film thickness. Surface velocities
are considered unidirectional.
4. There is no slip at the boundaries. The velocity of the oil layer adjacent to the boundary is
the same as that of the boundary. The fluid attached to the bearing surface is stationary
while the fluid near the rotor or shaft has the same angular velocity as the shaft itself.
Apart from these assumptions there are certain assumptions that are considered to enable
simplification of the mathematical equations. These assumptions are not essential but make
equations simpler.
5. The fluid lubricant used is Newtonian. This means the fluid obeys Newtons law of
viscosity and the fluid stress is proportional to the rate of shear.
6. Fluid film flow in the bearings is laminar.
7. The viscosity of the fluid does not change.

The Reynolds equation can be derived directly by considering a control volume fixed in space
and extended across the lubricating film. Consider the rate of mass flow through a rectangular-
section control of sides Ax andAy, thus fixing the coordinate system and extending the
lubricating film between the surfaces as shown in figure 1.1. Note that one surface is
represented by the plane z = 0 and the other by a curved surface so that the film thickness at
any instant is a function of x and y only. ua, Va and wa are velocity component of upper plate in
x, y and z direction respectively, ub, Vb and wb are velocity component of lower plate in x, y and
z direction respectively and fluid film density, h fluid film thickness and q is viscosity of
fluid.

Fig1.1 Mass flow through rectangular-section control volume
The mass of lubricant in the control volume at any instant is y x h A A . The rate of change within
the control volume arises from the change in the difference between the rate of mass flowing
into the control volume and the rate leaving the control volume, which is
x
q
x
c
c

'

y xA A in the
x direction and
y
q
y
c
c

'

y xA A in the y direction.
The principle of mass conservation demands that the rate at which mass is accumulating in the
control volume ( ) h
t

c
c
must be equal to the difference between the rates at which mass enters
and leaves. Therefore,

( ) h
t y
q
x
q
y
x

c
c
=
c
c

c
c

'
'
(1.1)
But
( )
t
h
t
h
h
t c
c
+
c
c
=
c
c

And
( )
t
h
y
h
v
x
h
u w w h
t
a a b a
c
c
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c

c
c
=
c
c
(1.2)
The volume flow rate per unit width in x and y directions are defined as
h
u u
x
p h
q
b a
x
|
.
|

\
| +
+
c
c
=
2 12
3
'
q
(1.3)
h
u u
y
p h
q
b a
y
|
.
|

\
| +
+
c
c
=
2 12
3
'
q
(1.4)
By making use of equations (1.1), (1.2), (1.3) and (1.4)
( ) ( )
( ) 0
2 2 12 12
3 3
=
c
c
+
c
c

c
c
+
(

+
c
c
+
(

+
c
c
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c

c
c
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c

c
c
t
h
y
h
v
x
h
u w w
v v h
y
u u h
x y
p h
y x
p h
x
a a b a
b a b a



q q

This is general Reynolds equation.
Now
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
b a b a b a
a a
W W h
x
U U h
x
U U
t
h
y
hV
x
hU
y
p h
y x
p h
x
+
c
c

c
c

c
c
+
+
c
c
+
c
c
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
c
c
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
c
c

2 / 1 2 / 1
12 12
3 3

The left hand side of above equation can be rewritten as shown in equation
LHS
|
|
.
|

\
|
V - V = p
h
q

12
3

Here = V j
y
i
x c
c
+
c
c

The right hand side of Reynolds equation can be rewritten as shown
RHS= 2 / 1
)
`

c
c
+
c
c

y
h
V V
x
h
U U
b a b a
) ( ) ( + ) (
b a
W W
For slider bearing we can consider
b a
W W
t
h
=
c
c

Thus
RHS= 2 / 1
)
`

c
c
+
c
c

y
h
V V
x
h
U U
b a b a
) ( ) ( + ) ( h
t

c
c

Neglecting stretch effects the right hand side can be represented as equation
RHS= 2 / 1
)
`

c
c

c
c

c
c
+
c
c
) ( ) ( ) ( ) (
b b a a
hV
y
hU
x
hV
y
hU
x

With = U 2 / 1 | |
b a
U U the average velocity of upper and lower surfaces
The Reynolds equation can be rewritten as equation
|
|
.
|

\
|
V - V p
h
q

12
3
( ) hU - V =
Setting the value of
b
U =0 gives the same equation as above.