Influence of Axial Microvibration on the Transient Hydrodynamic Lubrication Performance of Misaligned Journal–Thrust Microgrooved Coupled Bearings under Water Lubrication

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the transient hydrodynamic coupling mechanism for misaligned journal–thrust microgrooved coupled bearings (referred to as coupled bearings) considering the axial microvibration under water lubrication. In the present model, it is assumed that the misaligned coupled bearing performs a sinusoidal reciprocating micromotion along the axial direction. Based on the developed numerical model, the effects of the working conditions, including the frequency and amplitude of the microvibration, misalignment angle, journal bearing radial clearance, and thrust bearing geometric clearance, on the transient hydrodynamic performance of the coupled bearing are studied. The simulation results indicate that the axial microvibration generates a periodic fluctuation in the load capacity for both the journal and thrust bearings, and the load fluctuation of the journal bearing is generated from the transient hydrodynamics of the thrust bearing. In addition, the negative misalignment mode is beneficial to improve the load capacity of the coupled bearing. Parametric studies demonstrate that although the decreasing microvibration frequency weakens the load capacity of the coupled bearing, it decreases the hydrodynamic load fluctuation. They also reveal that the increasing misalignment angle leads to an increase in the load fluctuation, and it also improves the load capacity.

Keywords:

• Coupled bearing
• axial microvibration
• transient hydrodynamic lubrication
• water lubrication
• textured surface

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The present study is partially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (51975064, 51705053), Major theme project of technological innovation and application development of Chongqing (cstc2018jszx-cyztzxX0026),theChongqingResearchProgramofBasicResearchandFrontierTechnology(cstc2019jcyj-msxmX0720), the General Projects of Basic Science and Frontier Technology Research of Chongqing (cstc2018jcyjAX0442), and Project No. 2020CDJGFCD001 supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.