A Comprehensive Review of Journal Bearing Models: Comparative Analysis of Thermal, Elastic, and Hydrodynamic Approaches Considering Misalignment, Surface Texture, Turbulence, and Cavitation

Abstract Hydrodynamic journal bearings (HDJBs) play a critical role in supporting and guiding rotors under varying load conditions, from high-speed heavy loads to lightly loaded scenarios. They are extensively utilized in turbomachinery, including pumps, compressors, turbines, and internal combustion engines. Researchers worldwide have made significant strides in enhancing the tribodynamic performance of HDJBs by analyzing various influencing factors individually and in combination from both scientific and practical perspectives. This review article adopts a structured methodology by categorizing the literature into key physical influences of elasticity, thermal effects, misalignment, surface texture, turbulence, and cavitation and systematically comparing their impact on bearing behavior under both static and dynamic conditions. The innovation of this review lies in its integrated comparative framework, which not only unifies these complex influences but also identifies modeling gaps, unresolved contradictions, and underexplored interactions between phenomena. Additionally, the article presents a detailed summary of theoretical and experimental studies, critically examines the limitations of existing models, and highlights the limitations of experimental validations. Finally, research recommendations are proposed to guide future work toward achieving improved tribodynamic performance and practical applicability.