Abnormal behavior of a hydrodynamic lubrication journal bearing caused by wall slip

Reynolds lubrication theory assumes that there is no wall slip on the interfaces between the solids and lubricant. During recent years, however, it is found that wall slip often happens. The present paper analyzes the wall slip occurring in a hydrodynamic lubrication journal bearing. If the two surfaces have the same adhesion property wall slip always decreases the oil film load support capacity. If there is wall slip over all of the lubricated surfaces, the hydrodynamic effect of the journal bearing vanishes, and no load support exists. If the two lubricated surfaces have different adhesion properties, the wall slip effect is more complex and may cause the journal bearing to operate in an instable manner. In order to avoid the wall slip, the limiting shear stress at the bearing surface should be higher than that at the journal surface. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.