Steady state and dynamic characteristics of axial grooved journal bearings

Abstract

The steady state and dynamic characteristics including whirl instability of oil journal bearings with single axial groove located at the top of the bearing and then at some angular interval from the top from which oil is supplied at constant pressure are obtained theoretically. The Reynolds equation is solved numerically by finite difference method satisfying the appropriate boundary conditions. The dynamic behaviour in terms of stiffness and damping coefficients of fluid film and stability are found using a first-order perturbation method for each location of the groove. It has been shown that both load capacity, end flow is maximum when the feeding groove is at 12° location and thereafter the load capacity falls, stability improves for smaller groove angle and groove length at higher value of eccentricity ratio and speed. The stiffness and damping coefficient magnitude is found to be higher for the bearing with smaller groove angle and groove length, the difference between the hydrodynamic and hydrostatic load increases at 12° groove location.