Finite Element Analysis of Elastohydrodynamic Cylindrical Journal Bearing

This paper presents a short and focused analysis of the pressure development inside the fluid film related to a journal bearing (i. e. the pressure distribution in the the gap between the shaft, generally referred to as the "journal", and the bearing). The related flow is considered to be isotherm, laminar, steady and incompressible. The lubricant is assumed to be an isoviscous fluid. The Reynolds equation governing the lubricant pressure is derived from the coupled continuity and momentum balance equations written in the framework of the Stokes theory. The non linear system given by coupled equations for fluid pressure development (the aforementioned Reynolds equation) and solid deformation (linear elasticity model) is solved using a fully coupled Newton Raphson procedure. The Reynolds equation is numerically solved resorting to the Galerkin finite-element-method. The results show that, when the elastic deformation takes place, there are obvious changes in the film pressure distribution, in the highest film pressure and in the film-thickness distribution.