Influence of inlet conditions on the thermohydrodynamic state of a fully circumferentially grooved journal bearing

A thermohydrodynamic (THD) analysis of a fully circumferentially grooved hy drodynamic bearing is presented. The pressure distribution is obtained usin g the short bearing approximation taking into account the viscosity variati on in the radial and circumferential coordinates. The axial temperature var iation is also included by an axial averaging technique, which incorporates the supply pressure and film entry temperature in the energy equation. It is found that the determination of the lubricant temperature at the entry t o the film plays an important role in the overall temperature distribution in the bearing. A simplified approach for determining this temperature is p resented. An extensive set of experimental results performed by Maki and Ez zat (1980, ASME J. Lubr. Technol., 102. pp. 8-14) is used for validation pu rposes. The results show that mixing in nominal supply temperature and henc e have a significant influence on the bearing temperature.