Lubrication characteristics of porous inclined stepped composite bearings with couple stress fluids

Abstract

This paper presents the theoretical study of porous inclined stepped composite bearings with couple stress fluids. The generalized Reynolds type equation is derived for porous inclined stepped composite bearings with couple stress fluids. The closed form expressions are obtained for the fluid film pressure, load carrying capacity, frictional force and coefficient of friction. These expressions can be utilized to obtain the performance characteristic of four different types of bearing systems viz: porous plane slider, porous composite tapered land bearing, porous composite tapered concave bearing. It is observed that the effect of couple stress fluid lubricant provide an enhanced load carrying capacity and reduced coefficient of friction as compared to the corresponding Newtonian case for the bearings under consideration. Further, it is found that porous inclined stepped composite bearing has the largest load carrying capacity and lowest coefficient of friction as compared to other bearing geometries under consideration. Copyright © 2013 Japanese Society of Tribologists.