Dynamic performance analysis of ER fluid lubricated journal bearing.

ER fluid is a smart fluid whose influence on the journal bearing has been studied in present work. The Reynolds equation has been solved using the finite element method. Dynamic performance characteristics such as stiffness coefficients and damping coefficients have been analysed. The influence of ER fluid on the hybrid journal bearing has been compared with Newtonian lubricant. Results show a significant improvement in dynamic coefficients using ER fluid as a lubricant. For different values of C̄_s2 (i.e., 0.06 to 0.18), stiffness coefficients and the damping coefficients are enhanced for ER fluid lubricated bearing in comparison with the Newtonian fluid lubricated bearing system. The ER effect is found to be higher for high voltage. It has been concluded that the decrease in S̄_xx and S̄_zz are observed to be 20% and 15% respectively. In contrast, an increase in C̄_xx and C̄_zz are 10% and 10.7% respectively for orifice compensated hybrid journal bearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]