Effect of surface roughness on the static characteristics of rotor bearings with couple stress fluids

Abstract

In this paper, the study of static rotor bearing systems lubricated with couple stress fluids has been advanced to analyze the effect of surface roughness considerations using stochastic approach. The problem is formulated mathematically and solved with appropriate boundary conditions for transverse roughness and for longitudinal roughness. It is observed that the surface roughness considerably influences the static characteristics of the rotor bearing system. The effect of couple stresses is to increase the load carrying capacity and to decrease the coefficient of friction for both types of roughness patterns. The bearings with couple stress fluid operate with smaller attitude angle as compared to the Newtonian case. Further, the effects of couple stresses are more pronounced for the longitudinal roughness pattern as compared to the transverse roughness pattern. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.