The Performance of Hybrid Journal Bearings in the Superlaminar Flow Regimes

Abstract

Previous work conducted on hybrid journal bearings has shown that a combination of hydrostatic and hydrodynamic lubrication principles leads to good load support over a wide range of speeds, including zero speed. Above the transition speed, particularly with large bearing diameters or low-viscosity lubricants, the mode of flow within the fluid film degenerates from that of pure laminar flow, through a transitional or vortex flow regime, to fully developed turbulent flow. This work presents a theoretical investigation of slot entry hybrid journal bearings operating in the superlaminar flow regimes. In particular, the work considers the effects of superlaminar flow on the optimization of slot entry hybrid journal bearings.