STREAMLINE UPWIND PERTOV-GALERKIN FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF THERMAL EFFECTS ON LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY IN SLIDER BEARINGS

Abstract

A numerical simulation of slider bearing load support has been accomplished using the streamline upwind Petrov?Galerkin (SUPG) finite element method (FEM). The coupled partial differential equations governing the mass, momentum, and energy conservations of a Newtonian fluid together with temperature dependent density and viscosity are solved to yield various bearing characteristics. The influence of thermal boosting effect, various thermal flux boundary conditions, viscosity coefficient, and various slider bearing geometric configurations on load carrying capacity, drag force, temperature distribution, and flow field has been analyzed. The study reveals that the consideration of the inlet pressure (even at zero inlet pressure) or thermal boosting or lubricant with low viscosity coefficient can increase the load carrying capacity of the bearing. Interesting bolus-like flow pattern, thermal boundary layers are observed in the flow and temperature fields.