Stability Margin of Hybrid Journal Bearing: Influence of Thermal and Elastic Effects

Abstract

This paper deals with the stability margin of a constant flow valve compensated hole-entry hybrid journal bearing system considering bearing flexibility and variation of viscosity due to temperature rise of the lubricant. The journal temperature is computed on the basis of average fluid-film temperature and axisymmetric isothermal element is assumed. The coupled solution of Reynold’s, energy, conduction, and elasticity equations is obtained using finite element method. The performance of a symmetric and asymmetric hole-entry hybrid journal bearing configurations is studied. The results presented in the study indicate that the bearing flexibility and temperature rise of the lubricant fluid-film affects the performance of the hole-entry hybrid journal bearing system quite significantly and proper selection of restrictor design parameter is quite useful in maintaining the fluid film thickness and threshold speed of the journal.