Solution of a hydrodynamic lubrication problem with Maple

A set of partial differential equations, arising in a calculation of hydrodynamic lubricationeffects, was solved using a perturbation technique. All of the algebraic manipulations required to find the solution were performed using Maple. The main challenge was the efficient handling and simplification of very long expression, which was met by the power of Maple's built-in procedures and by algebraic transformations suggested by the solution to the lowest-order approximation. As a result, the solution was obtained to a higher order, with greater reliability, than would otherwise have been possible