Static and Dynamic Analysis of Hydrodynamic Bearings in Laminar and Superlaminar Flow Regimes by Finite Element Method

Abstract

Adopting the nonlinear, turbulent lubrication theory of Elrod and Ng, the classical Navier-stokes equations in cylindrical coordinates have been suitably modified. These modified equations have been solved by finite element method using Galerkin's technique and a suitable iteration scheme.

Performance characteristics of a finite circular hydrodynamic journal bearing have been studied in terms of Sommerfeld number, attitude angle, stiffness and damping coefficients, and critical journal mass at various eccentricities for Reynolds numbers up to 13 300. Computed results have been compared with the published results obtained by linearized theory of Ng and Pan.