EHD Analysis, Including Structural Inertia Effects and a Mass-Conserving Cavitation Model

Abstract

The dynamic behavior of two elastic connecting-rod bearings is studied. The Newton-Raphson method and 8-node isoparametric elements for the lubrication analysis are used. For the structural analysis, 3-D elasticity assumptions are made and 20 nodes isoparametric elements are used. Inertia forces due to the kinematics of the structure are incorporated with the effects of the hydrodynamic pressures in the elastic deformations of the bearing. Comparisons with Goenka‘s results are presented for the General Motors connecting-rod bearing. A mass-conserving model used in conjunction with Murty‘s algorithm is presented for the transient evolution of the cavitation area. This model is applied for the EHD study of a Renault connecting-rod bearing.