A FINITE-ELEMENT INVESTIGATION INTO A SOFT ROLLING-CONTACT SUPPLIED BY A NON-NEWTONIAN INK

A study of numerical modelling and experiments of a soft rolling nip c ontact is described. A power law equation was found to be adequate in modelling the positive pressure zone in the nip, but was not capable o f describing the film rupture pressure adequately. The index and expon ent in the power law were noted to affect nip behaviour significantly and similarly. A shear rate cut-off model was used successfully to avo id singularity in the viscosity field at the mid-thickness and was fou nd not to affect the behaviour in the nip significantly.