Static Characteristics Analysis of a Herringbone Grooved Hydrodynamic Journal Bearing

Abstract

The flow field of a herringbone grooved hydrodynamic journal bearing is numerically simulated by using Fluent, a computational fluid dynamics software, to reveal the complexity of hybrid oil flowing. Influences of structure parameters on pressure distribution, static characteristics and cavitation are analyzed. Results indicate that the load capacity of bearing increases with the enlarging of spiral angle, reducing of groove depth, increasing of groove number and widening of oil seal margin. The friction moment reduces with the decreasing of groove number and oil seal margin length, and enlarging of groove depth. The maximum friction moment appears as the spiral angle is about π/6. Rate of flow can increase with the increasing of spiral angle and groove depth, and reducing of the grooves number and oil seal margin length. Fewer cavitations can be induced with the increasing of spiral angle, groove depth, and groove number, and narrowing of oil seal margin length.