Analysis of orifice compensated non-recessed hole-entry hybrid journal bearing operating with micropolar lubricants

A numerical study concerning the performance of non-recessed hole-entry hybrid journal bearing lubricated with micropolar lubricants is presented. The modified Reynolds equation governing the flow of micropolar lubricant in the bearing clearance space is solved using Finite Element Method along with appropriate boundary conditions. Dependence of bearing performance characteristics upon the bearing operating, geometric and micropolar parameters, over a range, has been analyzed. The numerically simulated results are pointed to the choice of restrictor design parameter, for the chosen combination of micropolar parameters of lubricant, in order to obtain optimum values of fluid film stiffness coefficients.     

Performance of worn non-recessed hole-entry hybrid journal bearings

Non-recessed journal bearings have been successfully used in various engineering applications because of their good performance over a wide range of speed and load, besides their relative simplicity in manufacturing. Due to many starts and stops in its lifespan, the bearing bush wears progressively on account of rubbing, which affects bearing performance. The present work is an attempt to analytically study the performance of a worn non-recessed (hole-entry) capillary-compensated hybrid journal-bearing system. FEM has been used to solve the Reynolds equation, governing the flow of lubricant in the bearing clearance space along with the restrictor flow equation using suitable iterative technique. A study is conducted for two configurations, i.e., symmetrical and asymmetrical hole-entry journal-bearing system. The simulated results of bearing characteristics parameters in terms of maximum fluid-film pressure, minimum fluid-film thickness, flow rate, frictional torque, rotor dynamic coefficients, stability threshold speed and whirl frequency ratio, etc. have been presented for the wide range of various values of load and speed. The results indicate that the wear affects the bearing performance considerably; therefore, a due consideration of wear defect should be given for an accurate prediction of the bearing performance over a number of cycles. The computed results further indicate that the influence of wear defect on journal bearing performance may be minimized if a designer selects a suitable bearing configuration.     

Study of hole-entry hybrid journal bearing system considering combined influence of thermal and elastic effects

A theoretical model is developed to study the performance of a hole-entry hybrid journal bearing system by considering variation of viscosity due to temperature rise of the lubricant in the analysis. The deformation of bush due to fluid-film pressure and temperature has been considered to establish the modified fluid-film profile. The journal temperature is computed on the basis of the fluid-film temperature. The relevant governing equations have been solved using the finite element method and a suitable iterative technique. The thermoelastohydrostatic performance of an orifice compensated symmetric and asymmetric hole-entry hybrid journal bearing configurations has been studied for the chosen bearing operating and geometric parameters. The results presented in the study indicate that the variation of viscosity due to temperature rise of the lubricant fluid-film have a quite appreciable influence on the static and dynamic performance of a hole-entry hybrid journal bearing system.     

A study of squeezing flow in micropolar fluid lubricated journal bearings

Squeeze films in journal bearings are investigated theoretically, using a micropolar fluid as a lubricant; full and half bearings are considered. Expressions for various squeeze film characteristics are obtained in the form of simple integrals in each case. The effects of microstructure are elaborated through graphs. A comparison is made between full and half bearings.     

Transient analysis of misaligned elastic tilting-pad journal bearing

For several reasons, almost all bearings operate in a misaligned condition, the present research work deals with analyzing the performance of a misaligned tilting-pad journal bearing under transient loading condition. The elastic and thermal distortions of the pad are considered and finite element analysis is used to calculate the pad’s elastic deformation. Using finite difference method, the Reynolds equation is simultaneously solved with the energy equation to calculate the pressure distribution and hence the other bearing performance characteristics. A modified fluid film thickness equation is used to take the effect of shaft misalignment and bearing elastic and thermal distortion into consideration.The results have shown that considering the thermo-elasto-hydrodynamic distortion improves the bearing performance in the case of misalignment shaft. And, at low values of shaft misalignment, the decrease in oil film thickness due to shaft misalignment is compensated by the increase in oil film thickness due to elastic and thermal distortions.     

On the steady-state performance of misaligned hydrodynamic journal bearings lubricated with micropolar fluids

The present work deals with the micropolar lubrication theory to the problem of the steady-state characteristics of hydrodynamic journal bearings considering two types of misalignment, e.g. axial (vertical displacement) and twisting (horizontal displacement). Using a finite difference method, the steady-state film pressures are obtained by solving modified Reynolds equation based on the micropolar lubrication theory. With the help of the steady-state film pressures, the steady-state performance characteristics in terms of load-carrying capacity, misalignment moment and friction parameter of a journal bearing are obtained at various values of eccentricity ratio, degree of misalignment and micropolar fluid characteristic parameters viz. coupling number and non-dimensional characteristic length.     

One-dimensional porous journal bearings lubricated with micropolar fluid

One-dimensional journal bearings lubricated with a micropolar fluid were analysed. It was found that the load capacity increased and the coefficient of friction decreased as the micropolar parameter characterizing the concentration of substructures in the lubricant due to the presence of additives increased. The load capacity decreased and the coefficient of friction increased as the parameter characterizing porosity increased.     

Adiabatic solutions for a misaligned journal bearing with non-Newtonian lubricants

Adiabatic solutions are presented for a finite width, hydrodynamic, misaligned journal bearing with non-Newtonian lubricants, obeying the power law model. The film viscosity is taken to be an exponential function of temperature. The performance characteristics of a misaligned journal bearing with slenderness ratio of unity are obtained for various values of non-Newtonian power law index n in the range 0.4 to 1.2, eccentricity ratio in the range 0.2 to 0.8, and misalignment angles of 0.0001 and 0.0002 rad. The adiabatic solutions show that the load-carrying capacity is greatly reduced when compared with that given by the isothermal solutions. In addition, thermal effects are found to be more pronounced for higher values of flow behaviour index n, higher eccentricity ratios and larger misalignment angles.     

Effect of turbulence on the static performance of a misaligned externally adjustable fluid film bearing lubricated with couple stress fluids

Static analysis of a misaligned externally adjustable fluid-film bearing is carried out thereby including turbulence and couple-stress effects in lubricants blended with polymer additives. A modified form of Reynolds equation, incorporated with the theory of micro-continuum and the concept of adjustability, is solved numerically, for various simulated operating conditions. The effects of turbulence and couple-stress on key performance parameters are presented.This study predicts that, an externally adjustable fluid-film journal bearing operating with negative adjustment configuration and lubricants with couple-stress, results in superior load carrying capacity with reduced friction and end leakage, as compared to a conventional partial arc bearing.     

Squeeze-film narrow porous journal bearings lubricated with a micropolar fluid

Squeeze-film narrow porous journal bearings using a lubricant containing solid particle additives and characterized as a micropolar fluid were analysed. The load capacity and time of approach increase as the micropolar parameter characterizing the concentration of the microstructure imparted to the lubricant by the additives increases. The load capacity and time of approach decrease as the permeability and/or the thickness of the porous wall increases.     

A study of slot-entry hydrostatic/hybrid journal bearing using the finite element method

A theoretical study concerning the static and dynamic performance of hydrostatic/hybrid journal bearing compensated by slot restrictor has been presented using the finite element method (FEM). Results have been presented for a double row symmetric as well as asymmetric configurations for different values of slot width ratios (SWR) and external load ( ). In order to have a better understanding of their performance vis-à-vis other non-recessed bearing configurations, the performance characteristics of slot-entry journal bearings have been compared with that of similar hole-entry compensated journal bearings using capillary, orifice and constant flow valve restrictors for the same bearing geometric and operating parameters. The comparative study indicates that asymmetric slot-entry journal bearings provide an improved stability threshold speed margin compared with asymmetric hole entry journal bearings compensated by capillary, orifice and constant flow valve restrictors.     

Analysis of an arbitrarily misaligned self-acting gas film journal bearing of finite length

To date, there has been no comprehensive study of the pressure distribution and related features of the operation and design of gas film journal bearings of finite length undergoing arbitrary misalignment. In this paper the afore-named study is presented. Direct application of the finite difference method to the non-linear partial differential equation of Reynolds, governing the phenomenon of lubrication, proved to be very effective in handling the geometry of “double-planed” misalignment. The results of the study reveal a very smooth asymmetric pressure distribution, strongly affected by the misalignment parameters.The load capacity, attitude angle and misaligning moment vs. the operational and design variables are presented in dimensionless form.This investigation reveals that the load capacity increases with the misalignment severity ratio — an unexpected feature of gas-lubricated journal bearings — providing that the rupture of the gas film at the ends is effectively prevented.The effect of the misalignment orientation angle is almost insignificant, except for the minimum film thickness at the ends.     

Wear and friction of synthetic esters in a boundary lubricated journal bearing

This study concerns the case of a slow intermittent motion, conformal contact, high load bronze journal bearing against a hardened steel shaft lubricated in an oil bath at a temperature about of 13 °C. Three synthetic esters were used: one pure and two formulated ones. Worn surfaces were examined using SEM-EDS to determine the wear mechanism. The tested lubricants were examined using ICP-AES to identify the elements present.The results show the wear rate, friction and temperature in the subsurface of the journal bearing material. An initial bronze–steel contact develops into a copper–copper contact along the sliding distance. Wear element concentration in the oil and friction surfaces departs from the elementary concentration in the journal bearing bronze base material. The copper layer thickness depended on additives in the synthetic esters, load and wear rate.     

A study of friction in worn misaligned journal bearings under severe hydrodynamic lubrication

Friction occurs in all mechanical systems such as transmissions, valves, piston rings, bearings, machines, etc. It is well known that in journal bearings, friction occurs in all lubrication regimes. However, shaft misalignment in rotating systems is one of the most common causes of wear. In this work, the bearing is assumed to operate in the hydrodynamic region, at high eccentricities, wear depths, and angular misalignment. As a result, the minimum film thickness is 5–10 times the surface finish, i.e., near the lower limit of the hydrodynamic lubrication when taking into account that in the latest technology CNC machines the bearing surface finish could be less than 1–2 μm.An analytical model is developed in order to find the relationship among the friction force, the misalignment angles, and wear depth. The Reynolds equation is solved numerically; the friction force is calculated in the equilibrium position. The friction coefficient is presented versus the misalignment angles and wear depths for different Sommerfeld numbers, thus creating friction functions dependent on misalignment and wear of the bearing. The variation in power loss of the rotor bearing system is also investigated and presented as a function of wear depth and misalignment angles.     

采用粘度可控高水基液润滑的高速动静压陶瓷滑动轴承主轴设计

高速主轴作为高速高精密加工机床的关键技术,直接决定着机床的各项工作性能.文中提出一种对粘度一轴承间隙寻优,从而实现主轴高性能的高速高精密主轴设计方法,并设计出新型绿色、粘度可控的高水基液作为润滑剂,随后通过采用动静压陶瓷滑动轴承的高速主轴热弹流数值计算,确定了润滑剂粘度及主轴系统相关结构参数,最终完成了该高速主轴的结构设计.     

A study on accuracy of porous journal air bearing

In order to predict error motion of continuous porous journal air bearing, an accuracy model is established to reveal the relationship among error motion, roundness error and structure parameter under quasi-static conditions. Based on the model, averaging coefficient is defined to quantitatively characterize the error averaging ability. The study finds that whether the bush and shaft roundness errors match is the cause of error motion. The trilobal roundness error of shaft has a major impact on accuracy for a porous journal air bearing with an elliptical bush, while the elliptical roundness error of shaft has a major impact on accuracy for that with a trilobal bush. On the two-dimensional plane of bush wave numbers n₂ = 2~7 and shaft wave numbers n₁ = 2~15, the averaging coefficients are symmetrical along the line n₁ = n₂. The shaft wave numbers which equal integer multiples of prime numbers of bush wave number have no impact on accuracy, while the remaining shaft wave numbers have impact. Among them, those at points n₁ = n₂*i ± 1 are with obvious averaging coefficients and have a major impact on accuracy where i is a positive integer. The main peaks of averaging coefficients appear at the points n₁ = n₂ ± 1, which have the most important impact on accuracy. The theory has many potential applications such as prediction of error motion, structural optimization and selection of parts grinding method, which is of significant importance for design and testing of porous journal air bearings used widely in ultra-precision machine tools.     

Thermal characteristics of misaligned finite journal bearings

Adiabatic analysis of a journal bearing is presented for maximum allowable misalignment with a length: diameter ratio of one. The direction of journal misalignment is allowed to vary up to the axial plane containing the load vector. Reynolds and energy equations are solved simultaneously using finite differences, considering both axial and spiral oil inlet conditions. The results show that bearing behaviour is significantly affected by journal misalignment. It is also noted that thermal effects are more pronounced for bearings with axial rather than spiral oil inlet grooves.     

Torque of misaligned gas-lubricated porous journal bearings

A perturbation solution is obtained for torque produced by misaligned porous gas journal bearings. It is shown that misalignment torque in porous bearings is higher than that obtained in conventional (externally pressurized and self-acting) gas bearings. The results are given in graphical and tabular form.