Thermal Effects in Slider Bearings With Limited Corrugation and Power-Law Lubricant

Influence of temperature on the performance of slider bearings of infinite width but having corrugation of limited extent is investigated numerically, using a commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software package. Lubricant is assumed to be a fluid of power-law type with temperature-dependent viscosity. Over a range of the power-law index, combined effects of temperature and the corrugated section’s location on load-supporting capacity F_y of the bearing’s fluid film are considered. Influence of the bearing-gap surfaces’ thermal boundary condition is also examined. Compared with isothermal situation, thermal effects result in significant reduction in F_y, especially with shear-thickening lubricants. This reduction in F_y is also affected significantly by the corrugated section’s location.