Convection of Heat in Short-Bearings and Face Seals

Abstract

For a short bearing or face seal, the temperature is determined by a steady Couette flow component and a zero-average perturbation, or waviness. In terms of these component flows, convection along the film and conduction into the surfaces is derived, and conditions are determined under which convection significantly influences the circumferential distribution of heat flux into the solid surfaces. For a stationary sinusoidal wave on a bearing surface, the phase relationship between this displacement perturbation and the wall heat input is found. The result is primarily of interest in systems where frictional heating may excite the thermoelastic growth of surface waviness, and where weak perturbations on heating may excite thermoelastic instability.

KEY WORDS:

• Face Seals
• Thermal Effects