Fig. 7 shows the predicted friction coefficient as a function of the sliding speed (expressed by Uη) and load W. The dependence of the friction coefficient on Uη is approximately linear on the log– log plot. As discussed in Section 3.3, the shear stresses in the cavitation zone are overpredicted by Eq. (19). The solid lines in Fig. 7 correspond to Eq. (19), and the dashed lines correspond the formulation in which the Couette shear stresses in the cavitation region are reduced by the factor ð1 λ). The effect is negligible.