The dynamic behavior of the slip length in a fluid flow confined between atomically smooth surfaces is investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. At weak wall-fluid interactions, the slip length increases nonlinearly with the shear rate provided that the liquid/solid interface forms incommensurable structures. A gradual transition to the linear rate dependence is observed upon increasing the wall-fluid interaction. We found that the slip length can be well described by a function of a single variable that in turn depends on the in-plane structure factor, contact density, and temperature of the first fluid layer near the solid wall. Extensive simulations show that this formula is valid in a wide range of shear rates and wall-fluid interactions.

• Received 30 January 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.75.051605