Application of Response Surface Methodology to Predict Oil-Film Friction in Journal Bearing

Abstract

Oil-film friction response is one of the key parameters that describe the operating conditions in hydrodynamic lubrication regimes. In the present paper, response surface methodology (RSM) with Box-Behnken experiment Design technique (BBD) has been utilized to predict and evaluate the effects of the three-level-three-independent variables on the oil-film friction. The design independent variables including rotational speed, load and oil-feed pressure were used to develop an empirical model for the oil-film friction in hydrodynamic plain journal bearing. A salient feature of this study is to investigate the interaction between the main three factors and provide a profound understanding on the significance of each factor. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the regression model and comparison of predicted and observed response values have showed good correspondence, implying that empirical model derived from response surface approach can predict the response adequately.