A Numerical Thermohydrodynamic Study of Fixed Pad Oil Lubricated Thrust Bearings

Hydrodynamic thrust bearings are vital components of rotating machinery and often undergo high axial loads and temperatures. High loads and the consequent shear heating result in high temperature development and viscosity drop of the lubricant. This phenomenon is captured in the solution of a three dimensional energy equation problem. The inlet flow temperature via a groove mixing model and its interaction with outflow from the previous pad is also included in the analysis. Traditionally, capturing the heat conduction at the lubricant solid interfaces in the energy solution for the fixed pad, lubricant, and rotating disk (runner) have faced significant convergence problems. In this study, an integrated method is proposed to remedy this issue. The effects of various model features on the computed results are investigated.