Flow Patterns and Dynamic Characteristics of a Lightly Loaded Hydrostatic Pocket of Variable Aspect Ratio and Supply Jet Strength

Abstract

The flow in a hydrostatic pocket is numerically simulated using a dimensionless formulation of the Navier-Stokes equations. In essence, this paper continues the work of Braun et al. (1), (2) by extending it to the study of the effects of certain geometric (α and λ) and flow (R and F) parameters on stiffness and damping in the hydrostatic pocket. The numerical simulations evaluate parametrically the effects of the aspect ratio, the Reynolds number and the jet strength on the flow pattern, pressure magnitudes, runner equilibrium position, stiffness and damping. This synthesis analysis has direct pertinence to hydrostatic journal bearing parametric design, especially so for configurations when α << 1.

Presented as a Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers paper at the ASME/STLE Tribology Conference in San Diego, California, October 19–21, 1992

KEY WORDS:

• Engineering Analysis and Computing
• Hydrostatic Bearings

Notes

Presented as a Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers paper at the ASME/STLE Tribology Conference in San Diego, California, October 19–21, 1992