Abstract
Reynolds equation is solved using finite difference method (FDM) on the surface of the tilting pad to find the pressure distribution in the lubricant oil film. Different pressure profiles with grid independence are described. The present work evaluates pressure at various locations after performing a thorough grid refinement. In recent similar works, this aspect has not been addressed. However, present study shows that it can have significant effect on the pressure profile. Results of a sector shaped pad are presented and it is shown that the maximum average value of pressure is 12% (approximately) greater than the previous results. Grid independence occurs after 24 × 24 grids. A parameter “ψ” has been proposed to provide convenient indicator of obtaining grid independent results. ψ = |(P refinedgrid − P Refrence-grid)/P refinedgrid|, ψ ≤ ε, where “ε” can be fixed to a convenient value and a constant minimum film thickness value of 75 μm is used in present study. This important parameter is highlighted in the present work; the location of the peak pressure zone in terms of (r, θ) coordinates is getting shifted by changing the grid size which will help the designer and experimentalist to conveniently determine the position of pressure measurement probe.
Highlights
IntroductionTwo mating surfaces are separated by a layer of lubricant
In this fluid lubrication, two mating surfaces are separated by a layer of lubricant
It is known that the results would be more accurate using the full NS equations, the complexity of the calculations is increased heavily; so the Reynolds equation has been used for the thin lubricant film calculations in several research papers
Summary
Two mating surfaces are separated by a layer of lubricant. The Reynolds equation is a simplified from the NS equation when analyzing a thin lubricant flow, Reynolds equation is commonly used for its practical application while NS full equations are used to find validity limits of Reynolds equation. Both methods give similar results when working with narrow gaps; when the minimum distance of the channel throat is increased the pressure values obtained become quite different [4]. It is assumed that the fluid flow between pad and collar is never turbulent and the model applied is only valid for laminar fluids It is a common assumption in some cases turbulent flow exists under certain points of operation [5]. To obtain desired pressure it is often easier to switch the lubricant type instead of modifying other parameters as the gap height or the relative motion between surfaces, which in this case is identical to the collar velocity
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