A study on the circumferential groove effects on the minimum oil film thickness in engine bearings

This paper presents the effects of circumferential groove on the minimum oi l film thickness in engine bearings. The fluid film pressures are calculate d by using the infinitely short bearing theory for the convenience of analy sis. Journal locus analysis is performed by using the mobility method. A co mparison of minimum oil film thickness of grooved and ungrooved bearing is presented. It is found that circumferential 360 degrees groove only reduces the absolute magnitude of the oil film thickness, but 180 degrees half gro ove affects the shape of film thickness curve and position of minimum oil f ilm thickness.