DefinePK

Abstract

A generalized Reynolds equation has been derived for carrying out the stability analysis of a two lobe hydrodynamic bearing operating with couple stress fluids that has been solved using the finite element method. A non-dimensional parameter, ‘l’ has been used to indicate the length of the long chain polymer added to the bulk Newtonian fluid. It has been observed that the dynamic characteristics, i.e. the stiffness and the damping coefficients, are greatly influenced with the variation of the couple stress parameter ‘l’. The threshold speed of the journal, obtained as a solution to the linearized equations of motion is used to demonstrate the increased stability of the journal bearing system.