A numerical method to investigate the mixed lubrication performances of journal-thrust coupled bearings
Industrial Lubrication and Tribology
ISSN: 0036-8792
Article publication date: 6 August 2019
Issue publication date: 22 October 2019
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a numerical model to investigate the mixed lubrication performances of journal-thrust coupled bearings (or coupled bearings).
Design/methodology/approach
The coupled hydrodynamic effect (or coupled effect) between the journal and the thrust bearing is considered by ensuring the continuity of the hydrodynamic pressure and the flow field at the common boundary. The mixed lubrication performances of the coupled bearing are comparatively studied for the cases of considering and not considering coupled effect.
Findings
The simulated results show that the hydrodynamic pressure distributions for both the journal and thrust bearing are modified due to the coupled effect. The decreased load capacity of the journal bearing and the increased load capacity of the thrust bearing can be observed when the coupled effect is considered. And the coupled effect can facilitate in reducing the asperity contact load for both the journal and thrust bearing. Additionally, the interaction between the mixed lubrication behaviors, especially for the friction coefficient, of the journal and the thrust bearing is significant in the elastohydrodynamic lubrication regime, while it becomes weak in the mixed lubrication regime.
Originality/value
The developed model can reveal the mutual effects of the mixed lubrication behavior between the journal and the thrust bearing.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The present study is partially supported by the State Key Laboratory of mechanical transmission open fund (SKLMT-KFKT-201710), National Science Foundation of China (51605053 and 51475051) and the basic science and frontier technology research of Chongqing (cstc2016jcyjA0307).
Citation
Guo Xiang, G.X., Han, Y., Chen, R., Jiaxu Wang, J.W. and Xiaokang, N. (2019), "A numerical method to investigate the mixed lubrication performances of journal-thrust coupled bearings", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 71 No. 9, pp. 1099-1107. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-02-2019-0063
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited