Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the effect of the preload on the static characteristics of three-lobe bearings lubricated with a fluid blended with high polymer additives modeled as a couple stress fluid. Design/methodology/approach Based on the micro-continuum theory, the modified Reynolds equation for couple stress fluids is solved using a finite difference method to obtain the distribution of the pressure, the load-carrying capacity, the attitude angle, the friction coefficient and the side leakage for various values of the couple stress parameter and the preload factor. Findings The results show that the presence of a couple stress in the lubricants improves the static characteristics of this type of bearing compared to those lubricated with Newtonian fluids for any value of the preload factor. Thus, it is found that the preload significantly affects the performance of the three-lobe journal bearing lubricated with a couple stress fluid or a Newtonian fluid. Moreover, the investigation showed that increasing the preload factor exhibits an increase in the load carrying capacity and the attitude angle, but it decreases the friction coefficient and the side leakage especially at a lower preload factor. Furthermore, using a couple stress fluid and a higher preload factor led to a significant rise in the load carrying capacity and a significant reduction in the friction coefficient. Practical implications This study helped improve the performance characteristics of the three-lobe journal bearing. Originality/value The presence of couple stress in the lubricants improves the static characteristics of this type of bearing compared to those lubricated with Newtonian fluids for any value of the preload factor. The usage of the couple stress fluid and the higher preload factor led to a significant rise in the load carrying capacity and a significant reduction in the friction coefficient.
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