Effects of herringbone grooves on aerodynamic journal bearings based on finite element method

Abstract

Aerodynamic journal bearings are commonly used in high speed machines, which have weaknesses of low steady-state performance specifications. It is of great significance to study the effects of herringbone grooves on the characteristics of aerodynamic journal bearings. This paper investigates effects of herringbone grooves on functions of aerodynamic journal bearings by numerically solving the Reynolds equation based on improved finite element method. The obtained results show that the herringbone grooved aerodynamic journal bearings have a critical speed and they should run at a speed of greater than the critical speed. Ultra-high speeds and low eccentricity ratios are the suitable working conditions of the herringbone grooved aerodynamic journal bearings. The performance of aerodynamic journal bearings is enhanced with advancing groove numbers, and an optimal groove depth is existed with respect to the herringbone grooved aerodynamic journal bearing.