Analytical–numerical modeling of journal bearings with non-Newtonian fluids and cavitation effects

• Published in: Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering Vol. 43; no. 12
• Main Authors: Silva, Fabrício Vieira, Zanardi, Maurício Araújo, de Souza, Teófilo Miguel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.12.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Algorithms; Bearing strength; Cavitation; Computational fluid dynamics; Engineering; Finite volume method; Fluid pressure; Internal combustion engines; Journal bearings; Load carrying capacity; Mathematical models; Mechanical Engineering; Newtonian fluids; Non Newtonian fluids; Parameters; Pressure distribution; Technical Paper; Hydrodynamic lubrication; Fluid film lubrication; Cavitation; Journal bearing
• ISSN: 1678-5878; 1806-3691
• DOI: 10.1007/s40430-021-03238-4

The search for better performance in internal combustion engines and machines which use hydrodynamic journal bearings has motivated recent studies in lubrication field, with the application of computational fluid dynamics. The present study deals with the dynamics of some non-Newtonian fluids in short journal bearings, using the Newtonian, Herschel-Bulkley, and Bingham models. The main objective is to compare fluid pressure distribution, cavitation occurrence, and performance parameters, such as load-carrying capacity, friction force, and side leakage rate. The bearing equations were solved in a MATLAB program, based on the Reynolds equations, with discretization by the finite volume method and a cyclic Tri-Diagonal Matrix Algorithm solver. In all performance parameters, the Herschel-Bulkley and Bingham non-Newtonian fluids showed advantages when compared to Newtonian fluid.