Analysis of Static Performance of Noncircular Lobed Journal Bearings with Lubricants Containing TiO2 Nanoparticles Using Couple Stress Fluid Model

In recent years, due to the increase in the speed of rotary machineries, demands for enhanced lubrication and bearing design to overcome this challenge has increased. To satisfy these need, researchers have proposed additive contained lubricants such as Nano-lubricants and bearings with different designs such as noncircular lobed bearings. In this article, effects of preload and aspect ratio on static performance of noncircular lobed journal bearings of finite length lubricated with lubricant containing TiO2 Nano-particles for particle volume fraction of 0.01 are studied. Using finite element method, the steady-state film pressure is obtained by solving the modified Reynolds equation based on the Nano-lubricants and Couple Stress model theories. With the help of film pressure, attitude angle, friction coefficient, friction force, and side leakage of noncircular lobed journal bearings are obtained. The results show that using lubricants containing TiO2 Nano-particles can enhance the performance of static characteristics of two, three, and four lobed journal bearings. According to results, increase in preload and bearing length will increase load carrying capacity noncircular lobed bearings. Based on results, choosing proper design parameters can have great impact on static performance of noncircular lobed journal bearings.