Journal of Research in Mathematics Trends and Technology
Vol. 8 No. 1 (2026): Journal of Research in Mathematics Trends and Technology (JoRMTT)

Numerical Simulation of Effective Viscosity Distribution of Power-Law Engine Oil in Piston–Cylinder Lubrication Under High Shear Conditions

Andre Ronaldo Situmorang (Universitas Sumatera Utara)
Tulus (Universitas Sumatera Utara)



Article Info

Publish Date
26 May 2026

Abstract

This study investigates the behavior of engine oil modeled as a non-Newtonian pseudoplastic fluid using the Power-Law equation under high operational conditions. The computational domain represents the lubricating oil film between the piston and cylinder wall. The governing equations include incompressible continuity and Navier–Stokes equa- tions coupled with a shear-rate-dependent viscosity model. Results show that shear rate con- centrates near the piston surface, reaching the order of 107 s−1 due to strong velocity gradients. As a consequence, effective viscosity decreases significantly in high shear regions, confirming shear-thinning behavior. The viscosity reduction directly affects the hydrodynamic pressure distribution while maintaining stable lubrication performance. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating shear-dependent viscosity to accurately predict lubrication characteristics in piston–cylinder systems operating at elevated shear conditions.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

jormtt

Publisher

Subject

Decision Sciences, Operations Research & Management Mathematics

Description

JoRMTT is an international blind peer-review journal dedicated to interchange for the results of research in mathematical sciences and related fields. The journal publishes papers in fundamental theory, experiments and simulation, as well as applications, with a systematic proposed method, ...