Performance comparison of circular, two-lobe and elliptical journal bearings based on TEHD analysis

The purpose of this paper is to study the different performance of circular, two-lobe and elliptical journal bearings by TEHD analysis.

A complete 3D TEHD model of journal bearings is set up and applied to the lubricant performance calculation of the conventional circular, two-lobe and elliptical journal bearings. The finite difference method is employed to solve the THD model, and the thermo-elasto deformations on the pad are obtained by the finite element software ANSYS11.0. The data transfer between the THD model and ANSYS11.0 is carried out automatically by Interface Program.

It is found that under the identical geometric parameters and operating condition, the circular journal bearing possesses the greatest magnitude of the maximum oil film pressure, the two-lobe one takes the second place and the elliptical one possesses the smallest magnitude. The thermo-elasto deformations on the pad is the same order of magnitude with the minimum film thickness.

A complete 3D TEHD model made up of the THD model and ANSYS11.0 can be applied on journal bearings in practice applications.

This paper set up a complete 3D TEHD model that is in common use for the lubricant performance analysis of circular and non-circular journal bearings.