A theoretical study of a finite grooved journal bearing lubricated with couple stress fluids is made considering both thermal and cavitation effects. On the basis of the Stokes couple stress fluid model, the modified Reynolds equation and the energy equation are derived and then numerically solved together with the heat conduction equation. The solution to the modified Reynolds equation is determined using the Elrod cavitation algorithm. The effects of couple stress on the performance of a journal bearing are investigated. It is observed that the lubricants with couple stress, compared with Newtonian lubricants, not only yield an obvious increase in load capacity and decrease in coefficient of friction but also produce a slight increase in the temperature of lubricants and bush and a slight decrease in the side leakage flow.
OliverD. R.Load enhancement effects due to polymer thickening in a short model journal bearingJ. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics, 1988, 30, 185–196.
2.
SpikesH. A.The behavior of lubricants in contacts: Current understanding and future possibilitiesProc. Instn Mech. Engrs, Part J: J. Engineering Tribology, 1994, 208 (J1), 3–15.
3.
StokesV. K.Couple stresses in fluidsPhysics Fluids, 1966, 9, 1709–1715.
4.
GuptaR. S.SharmaL. G.Analysis of couple stress lubricant in hydrostatic thrust bearingsWear, 1988, 48, 257–269.
5.
SinhaP.SinghC.Couple stresses in the lubrication of rolling contact bearings considering cavitationWear, 1981, 67, 85–91.
6.
DasN. C.A study of optimum load-bearing capacity for slider bearings lubricated with couple stress fluids in magnetic fieldTribology Int., 1998, 31, 393–400.
7.
MokhiamerU. M.CrosbyW. A.El-GamalH. A.A study of a journal bearing lubricated by fluids with couple stress considering the elasticity of the linerWear, 1999, 224, 194–201.
8.
LinJ. R.Static and dynamic behaviour of pure squeeze films in couple stress fluid-lubricated short journal bearingsProc. Instn Mech. Engrs, Part J: J. Engineering Tribology, 1997, 211 (J1), 29–36.
9.
NaduvinamaniN. B.HiremathP. S.GurubasavarajG.Static and dynamic behaviour of squeeze-film lubrication of narrow porous journal bearings with coupled stress fluidProc. Instn Mech. Engrs, Part J: J. Engineering Tribology, 2001, 215, 45–62.
10.
DowsonD.A generalized Reynolds equation for fluid-film lubricationInt. J. Mech. Sci., 1962, 4, 159–170.
11.
TuckerP. G.KeoghP. S.A generalized computational fluid dynamics approach for journal bearing performance predictionProc. Instn Mech. Engrs, Part J: J. Engineering Tribology, 1995, 209 (J2), 99–108.
OlssonK. O.Cavitation in dynamically loaded journal bearings. Report, Chalmers University of Technology, Goteborg, 1965.
14.
ElrodH. G.AdamsM. L.A computer program for cavitation and starvation problem, Cavitation and related phenomena in lubrication.1974, pp. 37–41 (Mechanical Engineering Publications Limited, London).
VijayaraghavanD.KeithT. G.JrDevelopment and evaluation of a cavitation algorithmTribology Trans., 1989, 32, 225–233.
17.
VijayaraghavanD.KeithT. G.JrBreweD. E.Effect of lubricant supply starvation on the thermohydrodynamic performance of a journal bearingTribology Trans., 1996, 39, 645–653.
FerronJ.FrêneJ.BoncompainR.A study of the thermohydrodynamic performance of a plain journal bearing, comparison between theory and experimentsTrans. ASME, J. Lubric. Technol., 1983, 105, 422–442.
20.
BreweD. E.Theoretical modeling of the vapor cavitation in dynamically loaded journal bearingsTrans. ASME, J. Tribology, 1986, 108, 628–637.
21.
YangP.RodkiewicaC. M.On the numerical analysis to the thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication of a tilting pad inclusive of side leakageSTLE Tribology Trans., 1992, 40, 259–266.
22.
DowsonD.HudsonJ.HunterB.MarchC.An experimental investigation of the thermal equilibrium of steadily loaded journal bearingsProc. Instn Mech. Engrs, 1966-67, 101, 70–80.
