An efficient general fluid-film lubrication model for plane slider bearings

In the previous study, a Navier-Stokes based model was developed for slider bearings in which Legendre collocation method was applied in the cross-film direction and a finite-difference method was used in the axial and lateral directions. An improvement is made in this study by combining the original model with a bulk-flow model. In the new model, velocity and temperature are determined from the Navier-Stokes equations using the approach proposed in the former study. Pressure is obtained from the bulk-flow model. Comparisons of this model with the original model are made for plane slider bearings in four flow regimes: laminar isothermal, laminar thermal, turbulent isothermal, and turbulent thermal. Results show good agreement between the two models, and the model developed here is one order of magnitude faster than the original model for turbulent thermal flow.