The importance of rheological properties of lubricants has arisen from the realization that non-Newtonian fluid effects are manifested over a broad range of lubrication applications. In this paper a theoretical investigation of short journal bearings performance characteristics for non-Newtonian power-law lubricants is given. A modified form of the Reynolds’ equation for hydrodynamic lubrication is studied in the asymptotic limit of small slenderness ratio (i.e., bearing length to diameter, L/D = λ→0). Fluid film pressure distributions in short bearings of arbitrary azimuthal length are studied using matched asymptotic expansions in the slenderness ratio. The merit of the short bearing approach used in solving a modified Reynolds’ equation by the method of matched asymptotic expansions is emphasized. Fluid film pressure distributions are determined without recourse to numerical solutions to a modified Reynolds’ equation. Power-law rheological exponents less than and equal to one are considered; power-law fluids exhibit reduced load capacities relative to the Newtonian fluid. The cavitation boundary shape is determined from Reynolds’ free surface condition; and the boundary shape is shown to be independent of the bearing eccentricity ratio.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
January 1985
Research Papers
On The Role of a Non-Newtonian Fluid in Short Bearing Theory
R. H. Buckholz
R. H. Buckholz
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, N.Y. 10027
Search for other works by this author on:
R. H. Buckholz
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, N.Y. 10027
J. Tribol. Jan 1985, 107(1): 68-74 (7 pages)
Published Online: January 1, 1985
Article history
Received:
September 19, 1983
Online:
October 29, 2009
Citation
Buckholz, R. H. (January 1, 1985). "On The Role of a Non-Newtonian Fluid in Short Bearing Theory." ASME. J. Tribol. January 1985; 107(1): 68–74. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3261004
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Static Characteristics of Hybrid Water-Lubricated Herringbone Groove Journal Bearing
J. Tribol (April 2025)
Related Articles
Modified Reynolds Equation for Non-Newtonian Fluid With Rheological Model in Frequency Domain
J. Tribol (October,2005)
Rheological Behavior of Confined Fluids in Thin Lubricated Contacts
J. Appl. Mech (March,2001)
Experimental Validation of the Simulated Steady-State Behavior of Porous Journal Bearings
J. Tribol (July,2016)
Thermohydrodynamic Lubrication Analysis Incorporating Bingham Rheological Model
J. Tribol (January,2000)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Hydrodynamic Lubrication
Design of Mechanical Bearings in Cardiac Assist Devices
Average Shaft Centerline Plots
Fundamentals of Rotating Machinery Diagnostics
Introduction and Definitions
Handbook on Stiffness & Damping in Mechanical Design