Osborne Reynolds’ classical paper on the theory of lubrication Reynolds (1886) produced the generalized Reynolds equation. For spherical bearing applications, the generalized Reynolds equation is transformed in order to obtain useful results when the hemispherical shell is not in a horizontal position. A new film thickness expression is also presented. These transformations permit the determination of pressure distributions and fluid film thickness for any orientation of the hemispherical shell including the horizontal position, for which the conventional description of Reynolds equation is well suited. The resulting equation in two-dimensional form, for an incompressible, variable viscosity fluid, with upper and lower sliding surfaces, in spherical coordinates, contains the inclination angle β, which accounts for non-horizontal positions of the shell.
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January 2003
Technical Notes
Reynolds Equation for Spherical Bearings
Donna Meyer
Donna Meyer
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Wales Hall, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
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Donna Meyer
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Wales Hall, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
Contributed by the Tribology Division for publication in the ASME JOURNAL OF TRIBOLOGY. Manuscript received by the Tribology Division September 11, 2001 revised manuscript received July 2, 2002. Associate Editor: J. A. Tichy.
J. Tribol. Jan 2003, 125(1): 203-206 (4 pages)
Published Online: December 31, 2002
Article history
Received:
September 11, 2001
Revised:
July 2, 2002
Online:
December 31, 2002
Citation
Meyer , D. (December 31, 2002). "Reynolds Equation for Spherical Bearings ." ASME. J. Tribol. January 2003; 125(1): 203–206. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1506319
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