Two-way coupled Reynolds, Rayleigh-Plesset-Scriven and energy equations for fully transient cavitation and heat transfer modeling

Abstract

The Rayleigh-Plesset-Scriven (RPS) equation representing the source of void production is coupled with the Reynolds (RE) and energy equations in a fully transient solution with feedback between these equations. Temperature effects are accounted for by using an energy equation integrated across the bearing film. Dynamic enlargement of the surface of each of the discrete bubbles forming the pseudo-cavitation zone is accounted for by introducing the surface dilatational viscosity term in the RPS equation; this represents a continuation of previous work by Snyder et al [1] that established parametrically the significance of the surface dilatational viscosity (ks=3.75*10-3 N.s/m) both in the development of the cavitation bubble and the formation and sustenance of the subcavitation tensile forces. The study presents the interlaced effects of residual fluid internal energy, eccentricity, angular velocity and heat transfer coefficient on the pressure and pseudo-cavitation development.