Thermohydrodynamic Lubrication Analysis Incorporating Bingham Rheological Model

A mathematical model is developed for parametric investigation of the influence of the rheological properties of the lubricant on the thermohydrodynamic film conditions which occur in slider and journal bearings. The model is utilized for predicting the thickness of the shear zone in lubricating films with fixed geometry between the stationary and moving surfaces using a Bingham model with a shear yield stress which best fits the experimental pressure. It is found that the shear zone thickness is significantly smaller than the fluid film thickness in the lubrication zone and is of the same order of magnitude as that obtained by the empirical formula proposed by Wang and Seireg (1995) ASME J. Tribol., 117, p. 444. The results also suggest that the shear yield stress for the lubricating film is proportional to the pressure developed in the film within the range of the investigated cases. [S0742-4787(00)05101-8]