Computational efficiency improvement of dimple textured hydrodynamic journal bearing using progressive mesh densification method

There is a considerable amount of study carried out on textured hydrodynamic bearings. The numerical solution of textured bearings is a matter of concern for the researchers. There are several methods used to estimate the performance parameters of textured bearings. However, Progressive Mesh Densification (PMD) method is not yet used for textured bearings while it has been used for mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) and thermo-elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) problems. In the present analysis, the PMD method is implemented to estimate the performance parameters of the textured journal bearing. It is compared with the multigrid and the fixed mesh methods and found to be very effective in improving computational efficiency.

Run-Up Simulation of a Semi-Floating Ring Supported Turbocharger Rotor Considering Thrust Bearing and Mass-Conserving Cavitation

The vibration behaviour of turbocharger rotors is influenced by the acting loads as well as by the type and arrangement of the hydrodynamic bearings and their operating condition. Due to the highly non-linear bearing behaviour, lubricant film-induced excitations can occur, which lead to sub-synchronous rotor vibrations. A significant impact on the oscillation behaviour is attributed to the pressure distribution in the hydrodynamic bearings, which is influenced by the thermo-hydrodynamic conditions and the occurrence of outgassing processes. This contribution investigates the vibration behaviour of a floating ring supported turbocharger rotor. For detailed modelling of the bearings, the Reynolds equation with mass-conserving cavitation, the three-dimensional energy equation and the heat conduction equation are solved. To examine the impact of outgassing processes and thrust bearing on the occurrence of sub-synchronous rotor vibrations separately, a variation of the bearing model is made. This includes run-up simulations considering or neglecting thrust bearings and two-phase flow in the lubrication gap. It is shown that, for a reliable prediction of sub-synchronous vibrations, both the modelling of outgassing processes in hydrodynamic bearings and the consideration of thrust bearing are necessary.