Elastohydrodynamic analysis of a cylindrical journal bearing with a flexible bearing shell

Abstract

The effect of the elastic deformation of a bearing shell was considered in the determination of the performance characteristics of a hydrodynamic journal bearing. The finite element method with an iteration scheme was employed to solve the Reynolds equation governing flow in the clearance space and the three-dimensional linear elasticity equations representing the displacement vector field in the bearing shell. For design convenience a nondimensional deformation coefficient Ψ relating μ, E_m, U₀, C, R_j and tis defined. The performance characteristics were obtained in terms of load-carrying capacity, fluid flow, power loss and attitude angle for an aspect ratio L/D = 1, eccentricity ε = 0.6 and for a wide range of deformation coefficients. The results are compared for bearing materials having Poisson's ratio v equal to 0.3 and 0.4.