A numerical study on the negligibility of cross-film pressure variation in infinitely wide plane slider bearing, Rayleigh step bearing and micro-grooved parallel slider bearing

Abstract

In lubrication theory, the cross-film pressure variation is assumed negligible. It is questionable whether this is generally true. To validate this assumption, a finite-element software was used to solve the Navier-Stokes equations for plane slider bearings, Rayleigh step bearings and micro-grooved parallel slider bearings. Results showed that the cross-film pressure variation is negligible for plane slider bearings and Rayleigh step bearings. A parametric investigation for micro-grooved parallel slider bearings showed that there is a limit on the Reynolds number below which the difference between the local and runner pressures exceeding 5% of bearing pressure occurs in a very small region. This study found the correlations for the determination of this limiting Reynolds number.