Journal Bearing
Application ID: 8562
Journal bearings are used to carry radial loads, for example, to support a rotating shaft. A simple journal bearing consists of two rigid cylinders. The outer cylinder (bearing) wraps the inner rotating journal (shaft).
The new thin-film flow user interfaces of the CFD Module enables lubrication analysis and full elastohydrodynamic simulations. This example shows the pressure distribution in a lubricant in a journal bearing, where the bearing extends all around the rotating journal. In solving the Reynolds equation on the surface of the lubricant wrapped around the journal, the model uses a converging and diverging lubricant thickness to model the journal's eccentric position within the bearing clearance.
This model example illustrates applications of this type that would nominally be built using the following products:
however, additional products may be required to completely define and model it. Furthermore, this example may also be defined and modeled using components from the following product combinations:
- COMSOL Multiphysics® and
- either the CFD Module, MEMS Module, or Structural Mechanics Module
The combination of COMSOL® products required to model your application depends on several factors and may include boundary conditions, material properties, physics interfaces, and part libraries. Particular functionality may be common to several products. To determine the right combination of products for your modeling needs, review the Specification Chart and make use of a free evaluation license. The COMSOL Sales and Support teams are available for answering any questions you may have regarding this.