Theory of Cavitation in an Oscillatory Oil Squeeze Film

Abstract

The present knowledge on cavitation in oil film bearings is reviewed, and the inadequacy of the nowadays widely used method of designing dynamically loaded oil film bearings is pointed out. A new model of dynamic cavitation in submerged oil film bearings is proposed. The model preserves mass conservation in the cavitation region and allows the occurrence of tensile stresses in the oil film. The role of surface tension and contact angle is considered and incorporated in the model and their influences brought forth quantitatively. The model is applied to a parallel-plate oscillatory squeeze film bearing. Results derived from the model compare favorably with available measurements reported in the literature.