Comparative study on tribological performance of four and six recessed hybrid spherical thrust bearing operating with ER lubricant

Abstract

This paper concerns with the analysis of a multi-recessed hybrid spherical thrust bearing (MHSTB) system operating with (electrorheological) ER lubrication, employing finite element method. A continuous Bingham model represents the behaviour of ER lubricant, and the equations governing the system are solved iteratively using Galerkin's discretization. The present work undertaken is aimed at studying the performance behaviour of an MHSTB system concerning various values of applied electric field and axial eccentricity ratio ( ${\epsilon }_y$ ). A significant change in performance is witnessed upon changing the value of the applied electric field and axial eccentricity ratio. The influence of the number of pockets (four and six pocket) in MHSTB for the identical bearing geometrical and running parameters has been studied. The numerical simulation results reveals that six pocket MHSTB system provides greater value of fluid film reaction as compared to four pocket MHSTB system. Further, the damping capability of Four pocket MHSTB configuration is better than six pocket MHSTB configuration. Moreover, the use of ER lubricant ( $V\ne 0$ volt) improves the value of fluid film reaction and damping coefficient for both the bearing configuration as compared to Newtonian lubrication ( $V=0$ volt).