Analysis of textured journal bearing with slip boundary condition and pseudoplastic lubricants

The present study investigates the combined influence of slip boundary condition and non-Newtonian lubricants on the tribological performance of hydrodynamic textured journal bearing. To accurately predict the effect of air/vapor bubble formation in diverging zone of the slip-texture bearing, the modified Reynolds equation with considering the Elrod cavitation model has been solved. In addition, the energy equation under adiabatic condition has been also solved for including the loss of viscosity with the temperature rise of lubricant. It has been observed that slip-texture bearings with change in rheology of lubricant from Newtonian to Pseudoplastic shows significant improvement in the maximum pressure, the average rise in temperature, and lubricant-bearing friction-force. Further findings of the study indicate that the combined effect of slip boundary condition and micro-texture with suitable selection of lubricant rheology is beneficial in increasing the stability of hydrodynamic lubricant film in the journal bearings.