Elastohydrodynamic analysis of double-layered journal bearings lubricated with couple-stress fluids

Abstract Elastohydrodynamic (EHD) analysis of a journal bearing with a realistic model for the bearing made of two distinct layers is extended to include couple-stress effects in lubricants blended with polymer additives. Based on the Stokes microcontinuum theory, a transient pressure differential equation (modified Reynolds' equation) is derived from the fluid motion equations and solved numerically. The elegant and powerful semi-analytical approach based on the complex variable theory developed in an earlier work is extended to solve linear elastostatics problems for a double-layered journal bearing. The EHD solution in isothermal conditions is obtained numerically by means of an iterative procedure. By the finite perturbation technique, the eight fluid-film stiffness and damping coefficients are determined. At the threshold of instability, the dynamic coefficients are used as input data for studying the linear stability of the rotor-bearing system. According to the results obtained, the influence of couple-stress parameter on the static and dynamic performance characteristics of the compliant journal-bearing system is physically apparent and not negligible. Compared with the Newtonian lubricants case, lubricants with couple-stresses provide an increase in the load-carrying capacity and stability, a reduction in the attitude angle and the friction factor. It is also found that the fluid-solid interaction effect on the performance characteristics is more important, especially for high values of couple-stress parameter and relative rigidity of liner-bush assembly.