Viscosity Change and its Effect on Pressure Distribution in Hydrodynamically Lubricated Journal Bearing

Abstract

In this work, a parametric study of the change in lubricant viscosity with pressure variation of fluid (lubricant) in a hydrodynamic journal bearing was carried out. This study was carried out using the Finite Element Method (FEM) and this was used to analyse the pressure behaviour of the bearing was presented using the classical Reynolds Equation. From the result, it was observed that at the beginning of the bearing where the pressure was equal to the ambient pressure, the pressure increases thereafter till about 0.01875m where the pressure was at maximum. From this point to the other trailing end of the bearing, the pressure decreases to the ambient pressure at L = 0.025m. At the early stage in the bearing, the pressure increase was seen not to be that significant. This was usually between the ranges of 0 ≤ L ≤ 0.00625m. From this point onward, the pressure begins to increase significantly. The reverse was the case when the bearing’s angular displacement was in the range of 180⁰ ≤ L ≤ 360⁰. The result also shows a linear relationship between viscosity and pressure. The result obtained when compared with relevant literature shows a strong positive agreement.