Indian Journal of Industrial and Applied Mathematics

The use of magnetic fluids has led to the development of many new energy devices and instruments. Magnetically cooled high fidelity speakers, computer disc drives and semiconductors are already in commercially use. Magnetic fluids are prepared by suspending ferromagnetic grains in nonmagnetic, non-conducting liquids such as diesters, kerosene, hydrocarbons and fluorocarbons. Among various applications in engineering, most important are those of the possibility of collecting and holding firmly small quantities of such fluids in regions with highly focused magnetic fields. A theoretical model of magnetic fluid based porous-pivoted slider bearing with slip velocity is considered to study effect of surface roughness on the performance of fluid. Generalized form for surface roughness characterized by stochastic random variable with non-zero mean, variance and skewness is used to define bearing surface. Load capacity is evaluated in terms of magnetic, permeability, slip and surface roughness parameters. Numerical and graphical behavior of load capacity based on magnetic, permeability, slip and surface roughness parameters is also studied. Minimization of slip parameter and permeability parameter is discussed for the possible increase in the load capacity.