Effects of Thermal Boundary Conditions on Plain Journal Bearing Thermohydrodynamic Lubrication

The thermal boundary conditions (TBCs) play an important role in determining the temperature field of plain journal bearings. Well-chosen TBCs are beneficial in obtaining reliable results corresponding to actual operating conditions. In this article, a thermohydrodynamic (THD) model of plain journal bearings is proposed by taking mass-conserving cavitation into account. The three-dimensional energy equation and heat conduction equations in the solids are solved simultaneously. A comprehensive analysis is provided to examine the influence of the TBCs on the THD solution of plain journal bearings.