Parametric and Controllable Shape Model of the Water-Lubricated Rubber Journal Bearing

Abstract

This paper describes a general bearing profile for the water-lubricated rubber journal bearing. Characteristics of the most popular water-lubricated rubber journal bearing, the straight fluted bearing, were deeply analyzed. The bearing profile was expressed using subsection function and a parametric and controllable shape model was built. By adjusting the parameters of the shape model, the existing bearing profiles can be integrated into the shape model and some bran-new bearing profile can be generated from the model. The rigid film thickness equation was achieved using the shape model and the relationship between the load capacity and the parameters of the shape model was established with the neglecting of elastic deformation effect. It is seen that the dimensionless load capacity reduces with the increase of the transition arc radius, the flute radius and the number of flutes,. The Necessity of the research on the bearing profile and the correctness of the shape model are validated. The parametric and controllable shape model is the foundation to study the fluid-solid coupling effect and to carry out the multi-disciplinary cooperating optimization for the water-lubricated rubber journal bearing.