Thermohydrodynamic Modeling of Two Axial Groove Journal Bearings Under Different Lubrication Conditions

Cylindrical hydrodynamic bearings are essential components of rotating machines used in applications ranging from small motors to large turbo generators. They operate based on the principle of a thin oil film that separates the rotating shaft from the bearing, preventing mechanical contact between the surfaces. Studies on cylindrical bearings usually consider an adequate supply of lubricant. However, it is crucial to analyze the phenomenon of oil starvation to understand the influence of lubrication conditions on bearing performance. Researchers have developed various numerical models to represent the behavior of hydrodynamic bearings; these models are able to determine the supporting pressure by solving the Reynolds equation. The present work used the so‐called p − θ formulation and energy equation to represent the dynamic behavior of a cylindrical bearing. A journal bearing was designed and manufactured for experimental purposes, capable of being instrumented to monitor variables that will be compared with simulation results. Sixteen thermocouple sensors, equally spaced along the circumferential length of the bearing, were used to monitor the oil film temperature. A similar scheme was adopted for pressure data acquisition, with 16 pressure transducers. The obtained results demonstrated that the resulting thermohydrodynamic model accurately represents the dynamic behavior of the cylindrical bearing.