Coupling analysis of turbulent and mixed lubrication of water-lubricated rubber bearings

Water lubricated rubber bearings (WLRBs) are widely used in steam turbines, submarines and other large equipment. Due to the low viscosity of water, water-lubricated bearings are usually in a turbulent and mixed lubrication state at operation. Therefore, a turbulent mixed lubrication model of WLRBs was established by developing an extended average Reynolds equation and includes turbulent, and its rationality was verified by experiments. The results reveal the effect mechanism of turbulence on mixed lubrication under different load, rotational speed, axial misalignment and radius clearance. The contact pressure of WLRBs presents chaotic distribution after considering turbulence. The results also give an optimal axial misalignment and radius clearance that can maximize the turbulent force. The numerical simulation can provide some guidance for the theoretical analysis of WLRBs.

Automated summary

This study establishes a turbulent mixed lubrication model of water lubricated rubber bearings (WLRBs), revealing the effect mechanism of turbulence in these bearings. The rationality of the model is verified through experiments, and optimal axial misalignment and radius clearance that can maximize the turbulent force are determined.