A Study of Thermal Effects for a Half-Circumferential Grooved Journal Bearing

A parametric study of the thermal effects of a half-circumferential grooved journal bearings under aligned and misaligned conditions has been carried out by solving numerically the coupled Reynolds and energy equation system. Five different sets of boundary conditions for the energy equation have been used which include mixing between recirculating oil and inlet oil and a contraction ratio for the cavitation region. The effects of changes of the inlet oil temperature and pressure, the wall temperature and the L/D ratio have also been examined. For the range of parameters found in internal combustion engines, the mixing effectiveness at the groove and the resulting final mixture temperature have been found to be as important as the wall temperature and the heat transfer rate. The variability of the temperature, though, has been shown to smooth out the peaks of both pressure and friction during misaligned condition Distributions of friction and pressure in the oil are also examined which may be useful in attempts to reduce friction without reducing load. Results for an axial grooved bearing are also presentsed for comparision purpose.