Thermal Effects in Slider Bearings

The authors have shown previously by solving numerically the relevant mathematical equations describing lubricant flow, heat transfer and thermal distortion of bearing components in a slider bearing of infinite width, that, for the particular operating and boundary conditions assumed, thermal distortion rather than variation of the lubricant properties is the cause of hydrodynamic lubrication of initially parallel, radially grooved, thrust bearings. In this paper, numerical solutions are presented to show the effect of relaxing these conditions. The beneficial effect of thermal distortion is proved to hold generally and the importance of proper mixing of the lubricant at the inlet is illustrated. Comparison of numerical solutions with existing experimental observations shows only a qualitative agreement. A realistic three-dimensional mathematical model of a slider bearing of finite width is derived from basic equations, and the solution of the resulting equation, allowing for variable lubricant properties and thermal distortion of the bearing components, is developed and discussed.