Three-dimensional hydrodynamic analysis of a journal bearing with a two-component surface layer

The article presents a three-dimensional hydrodynamic analysis of a bearing with a two-component surface layer journal. This kind of bearing is characterized by an experimentally proved susceptibility to oil contaminants which is five times lower than that of a typical bearing. The oil flow was described with the Navier-Stokes and energy equations. The equation system was solved by the finite element method. The distributions of pressure, temperature and oil flow velocity were determined. The computation results made it clear that a journal with a two-component surface layer causes a reduction in the bearing load capacity for high eccentricity ratio values (0.7-4.9). Besides, contrary to a typical bearing, considerable velocity changes in oil flow in all directions (circumferential, radial and axial) were observed in the bearing under consideration. Particularly great velocity changes occurred in the radial direction. However, no essential changes were found in the temperature of the oil film and in the attitude angle. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd.