Optimization of Multiple Performance Characteristics of Surface Micro-Textured Journal Bearing

Abstract

The multi-objective optimization was carried out for maximization of fluid film pressure and minimization of frictional power loss as performance characteristics of the hydrodynamic journal bearing. CFD analysis was made for journal bearing with a smooth surface and micro-textured surface using thin film flow analysis by COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0. Initially, the static performance analysis was carried out for the smooth surface bearing model and which was validated with results from the literature. The detailed investigation and analysis of the validated model were carried out for different parameters of micro-texturing. The numerical attempts were conducted using the Taguchi DoE methods with an orthogonal array of L27. The effects of the radial groove region, groove depth, groove width, pitch and set of the groove on fluid film pressure and frictional power loss above performance characteristics were studied. The Overall Evaluation Criteria (OEC) formulated to obtain optimal surface micro-texturing configuration. Overall Evaluation Criteria showed that groove region of 90°–175°, the groove depth of 0.015 mm, set of 10 grooves, the groove width of 2.5 mm and pitch of 0.2 mm gave optimized value for fluid film pressure (45.6% improvement) and frictional power loss (10.96% reduction).