Abstract
The research of cavitation in narrow gap flows, e.g., lubrication films in journal bearings or squeeze film dampers, is a challenging task due to spatial restrictions combined with a high time-resolution. Typically, the lubrication film thickness is in the range of a few microns and the characteristic time for bubble generation and collapse is less than a few milliseconds. The authors have developed a journal bearing model experiment, which is designed according to similarity laws providing fully similar flow conditions to real journal flows while offering ideal access to the flow by means of optical measurement equipment. This work presents the high-speed photography of bubble evolution and transportation in a Stokes-type flow under the influence of shear and a strong pressure gradient which are typical for lubricant films. A paramount feature of the experiment is the dynamic variation (increase/decrease) of the minimum film thickness which triggers the onset of cavitation in narrow gap flows. Results presented in the work on hand include the time-resolved data of the gas release rate and the transient expansion of gas bubbles. Both parameters are necessary to set up numerical models for the computation of two-phase flows.
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