Temperature-gradient induced enhanced load bearing capacity of lubricated systems

Lubricated systems, which are pretty common in several engineering and biological settings, perform on the basis of their load bearing performances. In recent years, a good volume of research has been directed to strategize the performance enhancement of such devices by coupling interfacial phenomenon like electrokinetics with the substrate deformability. However, the deformation characteristics and subsequent load carrying capacity of such systems in presence of thermal gradient have not been explored. Here, we have unveiled that by exploiting a unique coupling of electrokinetics, externally applied thermal gradient, hydrodynamics and substrate flexibility, one can modulate the load bearing capacity of a planar slider bearing considerably. Our studies reveal that the alteration in the electrical potential distribution upon application of temperature gradient and its influence on the resulting hydrodynamics, coupled with substrate compliance, may give rise to significant enhancement in load capacity. We envisage that this analysis may construct a new window in the context of improved design of lubricated systems where the interplay between thermal, electrokinetic and hydrodynamic aspects can be coupled together.