Mixed thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication analysis with dynamic performance of aero ball bearing during start-up and shut-down

In this study, a coupling model is developed to include the aero ball bearing dynamic performance in the mixed thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication analysis, and the low-speed and heavy-load conditions during start-up and shut-down are involved. Based on the bearing quasi-dynamics, the inside motion state of the main loading surface is obtained, and the mixed thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication is conducted to get bearing lubrication state and properties. The numerical lubrication model under low-speed and heavy-load conditions is validated against published tested data, which reveal well consistency in central film thickness. The lubrication properties between a single ball and inner race during start-up have been studied, which indicate the lubrication film transforms from boundary lubrication to unsafe mixed thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication, and then goes into safe lubrication. The lubrication properties of the balls at different azimuths have been investigated during shut-down and compared with those in start-up, which have a similar opposite changing trend, but not a simple invertible process. The time in boundary lubrication region during shut-down is shorter, and the ball number in boundary lubrication region gets less, which means the lubrication properties are relatively better. At last, the parametric study on mixed thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication properties during shut-down has been carried out. It is found that the small bearing curve coefficient and increasing ball number can reduce the boundary lubrication time and improve the bearing lubrication.