Steady state characteristics of misaligned multiple axial groove water-lubricated journal bearing

Abstract

This paper deals with the influence of misalignment on the static performance of bearings having three axial grooves that are equi-spaced in the circumferential direction. The lubricant (water) is supplied from one end of the bearing that flows both in axial and circumferential direction and exits from its other end. Effects of misalignment in both vertical and horizontal plane are numerically computed for groove angles 36° and 18° using the modified Reynolds equation and finite difference method. The influence of misalignment on the steady state characteristics such as load capacity, friction coefficient, and side leakage is analyzed for both the groove angles with different eccentricity ratios. The load capacity and the side leakage flow, which is slightly more for bearing with groove angle 18° when compared with 36° groove angle, increases with the degree of misalignment (DM). The friction coefficient is less for bearing with groove angle 18°, when compared with bearing with 36° groove angle. The friction coefficient decreases with increase in DM for vertical misalignment for both the bearings.