Optimum texture shape under different lubrication conditions applied to the start-up phase of journal bearings

Abstract

This paper presents a parameterized model to optimize the texture units using an improved particle swarm optimization. The texture units are optimized under three lubrication states: boundary lubrication, mixed lubrication, and hydrodynamic lubrication, by utilizing the Stribeck curve. The optimal texture units can be applied to journal bearings and thrust bearings in different operating conditions to achieve maximum load-carrying capacity. The paper applies the optimal textures under the three lubrication states to the start-up stage of journal bearings to examine the lubrication performance and dynamic characteristics of the textured journal bearing system. The results demonstrate that compared to the untextured journal-bearing system, the introduction of optimal textures improves the tribological performance of the journal-bearing system, and the optimal textured units under hydrodynamic lubrication have the best friction reduction effect. Furthermore, it is found that the introduction of textures has no significant effect on the dynamic characteristics of the journal bearings.