THERMOHYDRODYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF PROCESS-LIQUID HYDROSTATIC JOURNAL BEARINGS IN TURBULENT REGIME .1. THE MODEL AND PERTURBATION ANALYSIS

A bulk-flow thermohydrodynamic (THD) analysis is developed for predict ion of the static and dynamic performance characteristics of turbulent -flow, process-liquid, hydrostatic journal bearings (HJBs). Pointwise evaluation of temperature and hence liquid properties is achieved thro ugh the solution of the energy equation in the fluid film with insulat ed boundaries, and justified for fluid film bearings with external pre ssurization. Fluid inertia within the film lands and at recess edges i s presented in the analysis. Flow turbulence is accounted through turb ulence shear parameters based on friction factors derived from Moody's formulae. The effects of fluid compressibility and temperature variat ion in the bearing recesses are included. Numerical solution and resul ts are presented in the second part of this work and compared with som e limited experimental data for a liquid hydrogen (LH(2)) bearing.