Report Paper 2: Approximate Short Bearing Analysis and Experimental Results Obtained Using Plastic Bearing Liners

Abstract

This paper outlines a new approximate theory for liquid lubricated plain journal bearings with elastic liners. This is a modified form of Ocvirk's theory and includes the effect of circumferential flow. The results of a series of tests on short plastic bearings are presented to compare with the theoretical predictions of the new theory. The authors conclude that for short bearings the theory gives reasonably good predictions of performance, but the elasticity assumptions cause major errors for length/diameter ratios greater than 0·5 due to the decrease in oil film thickness that occurs near the ends of the bearing. The approximate solution adopted for the hydrodynamic problem may be of use for considering dynamic conditions taking the Reynolds conditions for cavitation.