A lubrication model and static characteristics analysis for bubbly oil lubricated journal bearings based on theory of multiphase mixtures

Abstract

A bubbly oil lubrication model is established in this paper. Interface effect is included in this new model. Two single-component coupled nonlinear generalized Reynolds-type equations are derived based on the theory of multiphase-mixture flow and the second law of thermodynamics. The static characteristics of the finite journal bearings with bubbly oil lubrication are predicted using this theoretical model. The results show that the friction torque is significantly reduced compared to pure oil lubrication at a higher initial bubble volume fraction, and the sidle leakage are significantly increased compared to pure oil lubrication.