Effect of bearing type on the load carrying capacity in journal bearing supporting an overhang load

(Comparison between circular bearing and two-lobe bearing)

Abstract

In this work, the load carrying capacity of journal bearing that supporting an overhang load was experimentally investigated with custom-made bearing test rig. In the experiments, the load carrying capacity was defined as transition load that lubrication regime changed from a hydrodynamic to a mixed lubrication. To evaluate the effect of bearing type on the load carrying capacity, two type bearings, circular and two-lobe bearings, were adopted and compared in terms of the load carrying capacity. As a result, the load carrying capacity of two-lobe bearing was changed by preload factor that is a geometrical parameter of two-lobe bearing. When the preload factor was suitable value, the load carrying capacity of two-lobe bearing increased 30% rather than circular bearing. Numerical verification was also conducted, and the tendency of numerical results based on the Reynolds equation were consistent qualitatively with those of experiment.