The Impact Of The Cavitation Model In The Analysis Of Micro-Textured Lubricated Journal Bearings

Abstract

In this paper we analyze the impact of the cavitation model on the numerical assessment of lubricated
journal bearings. We compare results using the classical Reynolds model and the p model proposed
by Elrod to x the lack of mass conservation of Reynolds' model. Both models give quite similar
predictions of load-carrying capacity and friction torque in non-starved conditions, making the Reynolds
model to be preferred for its better numerical behavior. Here we report on numerical comparisons of both
models in the presence of micro-textured bearing surfaces. We show that in the micro-textured situation
the Reynolds model largely underestimates the cavitated area, leading to signicant overestimation of
the friction torque. This dictates that only mass-conserving models should be used when dealing with
micro-textured bearings. Further, we provide numerical details on the algorithms used and apply them
to various cases of potential interest for industrial applications.