Study on optimization of the circumferential and axial wavy geometrical configuration of hydrodynamic journal bearing

• DOI: 10.1007/s12206-013-0915-z
• Publication Date: 2013-12-27T22:50:04Z
• Authors: Xiaoping Pang; Jin Chen; Sinan H. Hussain
• Keywords: Waviness; Dimensionless quantity; Plain bearing; Bar (unit)

This paper is focused on using GA genetic algorithm to find the optimal performance with respect to shape optimization in three dimensions for the hydrodynamic journal bearing. The mathematical model for film thickness was drawn using Fourier series function and axial waviness value ( $\bar \Delta $ ) D to represent the journal bearing in circumferential and axial direction, respectively. The objective was then to determine the Fourier coefficients and axial waviness value ( $\bar \Delta $ ) D that maximized the load capacity subjected to a given set of constraint. Optimized results show that the presence of cos wave in axial direction, with a positive dimensionless amplitude (+A) and waviness number m = 0.633, improves the load capacity by (8–10) % over the cylindrical plain bearing with the same arbitrary shape and size; in general, the increasing order of Fourier series (n), an axial dimensionless amplitude and L/D ratio cause the change in load capacity to become more evident.