Enhanced performance of step slider bearings with couple stress and magnetic fluid lubrication incorporating sinusoidal magnitude: A theoretical investigation

Step slider bearings play a critical role in tribological applications, particularly within high-precision mechanical systems, where their operational efficiency is significantly influenced by the nature of the lubricant and its rheological response to external field variations. This theoretical investigation examines the behavior of a step slider bearing, taking into account the effects of couple stress and magnetic fluid as a lubricant. A sinusoidal model is employed to modulate the magnetic field's intensity, aiming to optimize bearing performance. The Reynolds equation governing the step slider bearing is adapted to incorporate the Neuringer and Rosensweig theory for magnetic fluid flow and the Stokes micro-continuum principle for couple stress effects. Through the solution of the modified Reynolds equation under appropriate boundary conditions, parameters such as pressure, load carrying capacity (LCC), center of pressure, and frictional force are quantified. Visual displays are used to present the study's results. The outcomes indicate a significant increase in load compared to systems without magnetic fluid. In addition, the increase in this couple stress and the parameters of magnetization will increase the load capacity and friction force. On the other hand, a decrease in the coefficient of friction is observed. The effect of magnetic fluid lubrication is found to increase the LCC by at least 28.48% with the inclusion of couple stress. In precision bearing systems used in aerospace, robotics, and micro-mechanical devices, enhanced load-carrying capacity and friction regulation can be achieved by utilizing ferrofluids subjected to well-tuned magnetic fields.