A Useful Numerical Analysis Method for the Dynamic Characteristics of Fluid Film Lubrication : The Case of Incompressible Fluid Lubrication

Abstract

A new method for the direct numerical calculation of dynamic characteristics of fluid film lubrication is presented. The present method is derived by applying the boundary-fitted coordinate system to the divergence formulation method. A generalized algebraic equation for perturbed node pressures, derived by the present method, can be widely used to represent the arbitrary film configuration, arbitrary bearing shape and arbitrary vibration mode. As an example of a computer program using the present method, influences on stiffness and damping factors of a spherical spiral-grooved bearing with a radial eccentricity are shown.