CFD analysis of hydrodynamic lubrication of slide conical bearing with consideration of the bearing shaft and sleeve surface roughness

In this work is shown the result of CFD simulation of hydrodynamic conical bearing lubrication with consideration of the effect of the bearing shaft and sleeve surface roughness. The oil flow in a bearing lubrication gap largely depend on the condition of the cooperating surfaces of a bearing. Surface irregularities are formed already at the manufacturing process and furthermore the quality of the surface may change during operation of a bearing. In this work, as a parameter describing surface condition, the Ks roughness height parameter was taken (i.e. sand-grain roughness height). The hydrodynamic pressure distribution in lubrication gaps of investigated bearings were calculated by using the commercial CFD software ANSYS Academic Research for fluid flow phenomenon (Fluent). Calculations were conducted for bearings without misalignment. The Ostwald-de Waele model for non-Newtonian fluids was adopted in this simulation. The coefficients of Ostwald-de Waele relationship were determined by application of the least squares approximation method and fitting curves described by this model to the experimental data, obtained for some motor oils, presented in previous work. The calculated hydrodynamic pressure distributions were compared with the data obtained for corresponding bearings, but assuming that bearings have smooth surfaces and there is no slip on surfaces. This paper presents results for bearings with different rotational speeds and of different bearing gap heights.