Behavior of micropolar lubricated lobe bearings: influence of non‐circularity parameters

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the static performance characteristics of lobe journal bearings lubricated with a micropolar fluid, considering effect of non‐circularity. Number of lobes and their preload value are the non‐circularity parameters considered in the present study. The bearings undertaken for the investigation are two, three and four‐lobe symmetric journal bearings with finite width.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, modified form of Reynolds equation is derived, based on Eringen's micropolar fluid theory and it is solved numerically using finite element method (FEM). The effect of the non‐circularity parameters of bearings on the steady‐state performance characteristics such as load carrying capacity, attitude angle, coefficient of friction and side leakage flow are presented and discussed.

Findings

The results show that the number of lobes and their preload value can influence the performance of lobe bearings. It is seen that, in order to provide certain improvement over simple cylindrical bearings, the non‐circularity parameters of lobe bearings must be chosen correctly. There is no single optimum profile for multi‐lobe bearing application.

Originality/value

Lobe bearings, compared with simple circular bearings, offer several geometric parameters to designers. These parameters must be chosen correctly, so that the requirements of a specific application can be fulfilled.

Citation

Nekoeimehr, M., Rahmatabadi, A.D. and Rashidi, R. (2013), "Behavior of micropolar lubricated lobe bearings: influence of non‐circularity parameters", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 65 No. 2, pp. 100-107. https://doi.org/10.1108/00368791311303465