Abstract
The journal bearing is widely used for the rotational support of various machineries, and tribological performance of bearing greatly influences reliability and performance of the mechanical system. The tribological performance required in machine elements becomes to severe, because the mechanical system works under the advanced control at high speed and high precise. We consider that it is important technology to do the real-time control of the hydrodynamic lubrication characteristics in order to improve the performance of the mechanical system. This paper describes the static properties of the liquid crystal journal bearing using an experimental and numerical approach. In our experiments, pressure distribution, attitude angle, eccentricity and friction force were measured and numerical analysis was carried out considering the ER effect on viscosity and oil film rupture. The results clarified the relation between pressure distribution and locus of journal center.