Temperature Distribution in Pocketed Thrust Washers

Abstract

This article presents an experimental and numerical investigation of temperature distribution in a pocketed thrust washer. An experimental test rig was designed and developed to measure the temperature in the thrust washer contact under various operating conditions. To measure the temperature in the contact, a thin layer of thermochromic material was placed beneath the pocketed surface. The thermochromic material allowed temperature measurements across the contact through color contours displayed on the sheet. Video recording during operation showed the thermochromic sheet dynamically adapting to the rising temperature in the bearing. For the numerical investigation, the thermal Reynolds and energy equations were simultaneously solved subject to boundary condition to determine the pressure and temperature within the thrust washer. The thermal Reynolds equation was augmented with the Jacobsson-Floberg-Olsson (JFO) boundary condition to model cavitation and the energy equation was used to determine temperature and viscosity variations across the film. Experimental and numerical results showed significantly lower temperatures within the cavitation region due primarily to lower heat transfer from the gas to the solid. The temperature profile and corresponding operating conditions of the bearing obtained from the model correlated well with the experimental results.