ON THE DYNAMIC THERMAL STATE IN A HYDRODYNAMIC BEARING WITH A WHIRLING JOURNAL USING CFD TECHNIQUES

A thermohydrodynamic analysis, based on computational fluid dynamics ( CFD) techniques, that accounts for conduction in the rotating and orbi ting shaft of a hydrodynamic bearing is presented. No restrictions app ly to the circumferential or axial variation of journal/shaft temperat ure. Dynamic cavitation effects are also introduced, such that pressur es in the cavitation region are predicted rather than set. The model p redictions are validated against analytical and published experimental results. For the case of a centrally located synchronous forward circ ular whirl orbit, it is demonstrated that the journal does not behave as a circumferentially isothermal element and that significant steady temperature differentials across the journal may occur.