Enhancement of steady state performance of hydrodynamic journal bearing using chevron-shaped surface texture

Abstract

In the present study, the optimum design parameters of chevron-shaped surface texture have been determined for the steady state performance enhancement of a hydrodynamic journal bearing. The fluid flow governing Reynolds equation has been solved using the finite element method, assuming iso-viscous and Newtonian fluid to obtain the static performance characteristics of textured hydrodynamic journal bearing. Different texture depths, areas and distributions have been numerically simulated and a set of optimum texture parameters has been determined based on the maximum performance enhancement ratio. The numerically obtained results indicate that surface texturing can improve bearing performance if the textured region is placed in the pressure build-up region. Moreover, surface texturing is the most effective at bearing performance enhancement when the bearing operates at lower eccentricity ratios. The performance enhancement ratio, which is the ratio of load-carrying capacity to coefficient of friction is found to be maximum at texture depth of 0.4, k = 0.3, textured zone located in the increasing pressure region and eccentricity ratio of 0.2.