Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026

10:58
Parametric Optimization Design Method for Friction Plates of Hydro-Viscous Clutches
Published on: July 22, 2025
Variational scheme towards an optimal lifting drive in fluid adhesion
Eduardo O Dias1, José A Miranda
1Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife PE 50670-901, Brazil.
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|December 11, 2012
Summary
Minimizing fluid adhesion energy is possible by optimizing the lifting drive. This new method significantly reduces adhesion force peaks for Newtonian and power-law fluids, saving energy.
Area of Science:
- Fluid mechanics
- Rheology
- Surface science
Background:
- Probe-tack tests measure liquid adhesive strength by separating fluid-filled plates.
- Current methods often use high-viscosity fluids and constant lifting velocities, leading to high energy costs.
- Optimizing the lifting strategy for minimal energy expenditure is an open challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the optimal time-dependent lifting drive (Lopt(t)) for minimizing adhesion energy.
- To investigate the impact of an optimized lifting drive on adhesion force peaks.
- To validate the proposed method for both Newtonian and power-law fluids.
Main Methods:
- A variational scheme was employed to systematically search for the optimal lifting drive.
- Theoretical analysis was used to derive the conditions for energy minimization.
- Simulations and/or experiments were conducted to verify the findings.
Main Results:
- An optimal lifting drive (Lopt(t)) was identified that minimizes adhesion energy.
- Employing the optimal drive significantly reduces the peak adhesion force.
- The energy-saving benefits and force reduction were confirmed for Newtonian and power-law fluids.
Conclusions:
- Optimized lifting strategies offer a more energy-efficient approach to probe-tack testing.
- This method effectively reduces peak adhesion forces, potentially improving experimental control.
- The findings are applicable to a range of fluid types, including non-Newtonian fluids.
Related Concept Videos
Lift
Lift is a fundamental aerodynamic force that acts perpendicular to the direction of airflow. It plays a central role in achieving and sustaining flight and in stabilizing various vehicles. Lift primarily originates from pressure differences created across surfaces, such as an airfoil. A lower pressure region forms above the wing, while a higher pressure region forms below it, generating an upward force. This differential results from the shape and orientation of the airfoil, enabling the wing...
Accelerating Fluids
When a fluid is in constant acceleration, the pressure and buoyant force equations are modified. Suppose a beaker is placed in an elevator accelerating upward with a constant acceleration, a. In the beaker, assume there is a thin cylinder of height h with an infinitesimal cross-sectional area, ΔS.
The motion of the liquid within this infinitesimal cylinder is considered to obtain the pressure difference. Three vertical forces act on this liquid:
The motion of the liquid within this infinitesimal cylinder is considered to obtain the pressure difference. Three vertical forces act on this liquid:
Newtonian Fluid: Problem Solving
Newtonian fluids exhibit a constant viscosity, meaning their shear stress and shear strain rate are directly proportional. This property ensures a predictable and stable response to applied forces, maintaining a linear relationship between force and flow. Examples include water, air, and light oils, consistently demonstrating this proportional behavior regardless of external conditions.
A velocity gradient forms within the fluid when a Newtonian fluid is placed between two parallel plates, with...
A velocity gradient forms within the fluid when a Newtonian fluid is placed between two parallel plates, with...
Hydrostatic Pressure Force on a Curved Surface
Hydrostatic pressure on curved surfaces is a fundamental concept in fluid mechanics with broad applications in the civil engineering field. When fluid is in contact with a curved surface, as in a reservoir, dam, or storage tank, it exerts pressure that varies in magnitude and direction along the curved surface. To assess the total hydrostatic force exerted by the fluid on a curved structure, engineers typically isolate the fluid volume adjacent to the surface and analyze the forces acting on...
Euler's Equations of Motion
In fluid mechanics, shear stresses arise from viscosity, which represents a fluid's internal resistance to deformation. For low-viscosity fluids, like water, these stresses are minimal, simplifying flow analysis by allowing the fluid to be treated as inviscid, or frictionless. In an inviscid fluid, shear stresses are absent, leaving only normal stresses, which act perpendicularly to fluid elements. Notably, pressure — defined as the negative of the normal stress — remains uniform across...
Bernoulli's Equation for Flow Along a Streamline
Bernoulli's equation relates the energy conservation in a fluid moving along a streamline. The equation applies to incompressible and inviscid fluids under steady flow. For such a flow, Newton's second law is applied to a small fluid element, which experiences forces due to pressure differences, gravity, and velocity variations. The force balance leads to the following form of Bernoulli's equation:
