The Prediction of Liquid Film Journal Bearing Performance with a Consideration of Lubricant Film Reformation: Part 1: Theoretical Results

Abstract

Analyses of liquid film journal bearings rarely consider the reformation of the lubricant film. This reformation normally takes place in the vicinity of a supply groove and is influenced by, amongst other parameters, the lubricant supply pressure. In a previous paper the authors have described in detail the implementation of an algorithm to locate automatically and efficiently the locus of film rupture and reformation boundaries using a digital computer. In the present paper results are presented for a wide range of important variables. In particular, the prediction of lubricant supply rate is studied carefully and compared with data presented in a widely used design aid which does not account in detail for the influence of film reformation.