Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of an Aerostatic Journal Bearing with Slot-Entry Restrictors

The computational fluid dynamics software FLUENT is used to analyze the performance characteristics of aerostatic journal bearing with slot-entry restrictors. The three-dimensional bearing model is established by the computational fluid dynamics fore treatment software GAMBIT. The gas film is meshed and boundary condition is set properly in GAMBIT. Then the flow field of bearing is solved in FLUENT. The pressure distribution within bearing model is obtained and showed intuitively under different radial eccentricity ratio respectively. The local pressure distribution and velocity distribution around the slot-entry are showed, and then intuitively disclosure the gas flow rule in the bearing. Rapid pressure depression is found near the slot-entry restrictors. The bearing capacity and stiffness are calculated and showed by the form of curves. After comparing it with the load-carrying capacity and stiffness obtained by solving conventional Reynolds equations using finite element method, it is found that the two results are very uniform. It is proved that the results obtained by computational fluid dynamics software FLUENT is correct and the method is feasible.