Analysis of mixed lubrication performance of water-lubricated rubber tilting pad journal bearing

Water-lubricated rubber bearing (WLRB) often operate in mixed lubrication. Friction and wear are their common failure modes. In present study, the tilting-pad structure is employed to improve the conventional WLRB. A mixed lubrication model of water-lubricated rubber tilting-pad journal bearing (WLRTPJB) is developed to reveal the mixed elastohydrodynamic (Mixed-EHD) performance. The influence of structure and operating parameters on the tribological properties and pad swing characteristics are studied. The results show a lower contact load of a WLRTPJB, especially under heavy load conditions. The studies also give the optimum pivot offset and preload factor that can minimize the contact pressure. Moreover, the equilibrium tilting-pad angle is sensitive to changes in design and operating parameters. This study would provide certain guiding significance for design optimization of WLRB.