The analysis of elastohydrodynamic lubrication in the textured journal bearing

Abstract

In this work, the influences of flexibility and surface texture on the performances of a finite-long journal bearing have been investigated theoretically. Reynolds equation has been solved by using finite difference method. In this study, Winkler foundation model has been used to calculate the elastic deformation of the bearing bush or housing. The steady-state characteristics of a lubricated finite-long journal bearing are studied in the textured and untextured bearing surface, respectively. The simulation results of the present study indicate that the surface texture can appreciably change the shaft center-line locus and oil film pressure distribution comparatively to the smooth case. The texture arrangements on the bearing surface, the texture number in the circumferential or axial directions, and the texture depth in the radial direction, all of them have significant influences on the static characteristics of a flexible journal bearing.