BEARINGS

1. VARIOUS METHODS OF LUBRICATION:

1.1. Oil bath:

Using an oil bath is the simplest method of oil lubrication. Oil, which is picked up by the rotating components of the bearing, is distributed within the bearing and then flows back to a sump. Oil bath lubrication is particularly suitable for low speeds and enables the design of relatively simple and economic bearing arrangements.

1.2. Circulating oil:

With circulating oil lubrication, oil is pumped to a position above the bearing, and runs down through the bearing and settles in a reservoir.

The oil is filtered and, if required, cooled before being returned to the bearing.

This method is suitable for high-precision bearings that rotate at high speed, provided there is an effective system for cooling the oil at the oil leaving the bearing can be removed from the arrangement by suitable drainage ducts.

1.3. Oil jet:

For very high-speed operation a sufficient but not excessive amount of oil should be supplied to the bearing to provide adequate lubrication, without increasing the operating temperature unnecessarily.

The velocity of the oil jet should be sufficiently high (at least 15 m/s) to penetrate the turbulence surrounding the rotating bearing. It is important that the oil leaving the bearing can be removed from the arrangement by adequately dimensioned ducts.

2. LUBRICATION REGIMES:

Sliding friction is significantly reduced by an addition of a lubricant between the rubbing surfaces. Bearings are lubricated by oils constantly supplied in sufficient amounts to the bearings surfaces.

Lubricated friction is characterized by the presence of a thin film of the pressurized lubricant (squeeze film) between the surfaces of the bearing and the journal.

The ratio of the squeeze film (oil film) thickness h to the surface roughness Ra determines the type of the lubrication regime:

2.1. Boundary lubrication:

A constant contact between the friction surfaces at high surface points (micro asperities) occurs at boundary lubrication.

This regime is the most undesirable since it is characterized by high coefficient of friction (energy loss), increased wear, possibility of seizure between the bearing and journal materials , non-uniform distribution of the bearing load (localized pressure peaks).

Very severe engine bearing failures are caused by boundary lubrication.

Conditions for boundary lubrication are realized mainly at low speed friction (engine start and shutdown) and high loads.

Extreme pressure additives in the lubricant prevent seizure conditions caused by direct metal-to-metal contact between the parts in the boundary lubrication regime.

2.2. Mixed lubrication:

An intermittent contact between the friction surfaces at few high surface points (microasperities) occurs at mixed lubrication.

Mixed lubrication is the intermediate regime between boundary lubrication and hydrodynamic friction.

2.3. Hydrodynamic lubrication:

High rotation speed at relatively low bearing loads results in hydrodynamic friction, which is characterized by stable squeeze film (oil film) between the rubbing surfaces.

No contact between the surfaces occurs in hydrodynamic lubrication.

The squeeze film keeps the surfaces of the bearing and the shaft apart due to the force called hydrodynamic lift generated by the lubricant squeezed through the convergent gap between the eccentric journal and bearing.

Bearings working under the conditions of hydrodynamic lubrication are called hydrodynamic journal bearings.

This three lubrication regimes are clearly distinguished in the Striebeck curve, which demonstrates the relationship between the coefficient of friction and the bearing parameter ηN/pav (η - dynamic viscosity of the lubricant, N - rotation speed, pav - average bearing pressure).

Stability of different lubrication regimes may be explained by means of the Striebeck curve:

Temperature increase due to heat generated by friction causes drop of the lubricant viscosity and the bearing parameter.

According to the Striebeck curve decrease of the bearing parameter in mixed regime causes increase of the coefficient of friction followed by further temperature rise and consequent increase of the coefficient of friction. Thus mixed lubrication is unstable.

Increase of the bearing parameter due to temperature rise (lower viscosity) in hydrodynamic regime of lubrication causes the coefficient of friction to drop with consequent decrease of the temperature. The system corrects itself. Thus hydrodynamic lubrication is stable.