Use of computational fluid dynamics in hydrodynamic lubrication

This paper demonstrates the suitability of using computational fluid dynami cs software for solving steady state hydrodynamic lubrication problems pert aining to slider bearings, step bearings, journal bearings and squeeze-film dampers under conditions of constant unidirectional or rotating loading. T he relevance of the inertia and viscous terms which are neglected in the de rivation of the Reynolds equation are briefly investigated for the above be aring and damper configurations and it is shown that the neglected viscous terms have negligible effect whereas the inertia effect predictions agree r easonably well with those reported in the literature.