Static Characteristics of Journal Bearings With Square Dimples

Abstract

Surface texturing is a technique for improving frictional and hydrodynamic performances of journal bearings because microtextures can serve as reservoirs for oil or traps for debris and may also generate hydrodynamic pressure. Over the past two decades, many researchers have experimentally demonstrated that texturing of various tribological elements can reduce friction force and wear, contributing to improvement of lubrication performance. Some numerical studies have examined the hydrodynamic lubrication conditions and reported that surface texturing affects the static characteristics of journal bearings, such as their load carrying capacity and friction torque. However, the validity of these numerical models has not been confirmed because of a lack of experimental studies. This study proposes a numerical model that includes both inertial effects and energy loss at the edges of dimples on the surface of a journal bearing in order to investigate the bearing's static characteristics. Experimental verification of journal bearings is also conducted with a uniform square-dimple pattern on their full-bearing surface. The results obtained by the model agree well with those of experiment, confirming the model's validity. These results show that under the same operating conditions, textured bearings yield a higher eccentricity ratio and lower attitude angle than the conventional ones with a smooth surface. This tendency becomes more marked for high Reynolds number operating conditions and for textured bearings with a large number of dimples.