Simulation of the journal bearing hydrodynamic using two boundary element radial basis interpolation models

In this work, the distribution of the pressure field generated in a hydrodynamic journal bearing is simulated by the boundary element method (BEM). This problem itself is not numerically difficult, but the works addressed exclusively by the BEM are not numerous, due to the presence of variable coefficients in the governing partial differential equation. Thus, boundary integrals cannot be achieved directly, since a non self-adjoint kernel and a body term are involved. Thus, here a new strategy using two techniques based on radial basis interpolation functions is successfully developed, excluding any domain integrals. Numerical solutions for the 1D and 2D problems are presented and their results are compared either with the available analytical solutions or else with solutions achieved numerically by use of the Finite Element Method.