Proposed TEHL Solution System for the Thrust Bearings Inclusive of Surface Deformations

Abstract

The coupled fluid and solid governing differential equations and their boundary conditions are expressed in dimensionless form which yield dimensionless problem parameters.

The proposed solution system uses an efficient hybrid numerical approach. The boundary element method is employed for heat transfer in the pad, a finite difference method for the lubricating oil film, a finite element method for the boundary deformations, and the Newton-Raphson method for the pressure equations.

It is shown that the proposed solution system provides not only the opportunity to include the thermal and elastic effects but also, if required, incorporation of the inertia forces and of the fore-region pressure build-up.

KEY WORDS:

• Lubrication
• Thermo-Elastohydrodynamics
• Thrust Bearing