Analysis of textured multi-lobe non-recessed hybrid journal bearings with various restrictors

The present work deals with a comparative study concerning the combined influence of ER fluid lubrication and surface texturing on the performance of two-lobe/circular non-recessed hybrid journal bearings compensated with various types of flow control devices respectively. In order to describe the behavior of electro-rheological lubricant, Continuous Bingham model has been used. Further, the solution of modified Reynolds equation has been obtained with the help of FEM approach. The comparative study revealed that the ER fluid lubricated CFV compensated two-lobe (delta = 1.1) non-recessed journal bearings gives superior performance vis-a-vis other compensating elements like capillary, orifice and slot-entry. Besides this, it has been noticed that the textured non-recessed journal bearings (two-lobe/circular) improves the bearing performance significantly for capillary, orifice and slot-entry restrictor except CFV restrictor. The numerically simulated results presented in this paper may help in proper selection of restrictor, lubricant and bearing configuration so as to get the desired performance.