Transformation of tribological modelling of squeeze flows to simulate the flow of highly viscous adhesives and sealants in manufacturing processes

For the description of the flow processes of an adhesive during pressing, existing CFD models are very complex and should be replaced by more efficient methods. The Partially Filled Gap (PFG) model developed for tribological systems, which is firmly established in practice, is used for this purpose. This paper shows an academic example of a comparison between a CFD calculation, the PFG model and an analytical solution based on the Reynolds equation, showing that the PFG method is well suitable to the problem presented. In an outlook the future potential of this approach is discussed.