ANALYSIS OF A MISALIGNED JOURNAL BEARING FOR MICROPOLAR FLUID CONSIDERING CAVITATION AND STARVATION EFFECTS

An analysis is provided in this paper for hydrodynamic, micropolar lubrication of a misaligned journal bearing. The numerical procedure used has incorporated a cavitation algorithm, which automatically predicts film rupture and reformation in the bearings. The analysis is performed on a finite width grooved journal bearing for both starvation supply pressure and higher lubricant supply pressure inlet conditions. The larger particle and the higher viscosity of the additives delaying the film reformation boundary is confirmed by the experimental results, despite the fact that the particle size and viscosity of the additives do not influence the location of film rupture.