Numerical investigation of static characteristic of a tilting-pad journal bearing using shear stress transport model and air backflow

Numerical simulations are important in bearing designs and should be in accordance with real working conditions. Two details are analyzed for the numerical simulations with a three-dimensional model of a large tilting-pad journal bearing included. The first detail is the flow model of the journal bearing simulations. The shear stress transport model with low-Reynolds number correction and the laminar model are used for the bearing simulations. In comparison with the laminar model, the pressure distribution of the shear stress transport model with low-Reynolds number correction is closer to and in good accordance with the experimental data. Thus, the shear stress transport model with low-Reynolds number correction is more suitable than the laminar model for the journal bearing simulations. The second detail is the backflow material of the bearing outlet boundary. Two backflow materials, air and oil, are simulated and compared with the experimental data. While the mechanical loss of the oil backflow is much higher than the experimental data, the simulated mechanical loss of the air backflow has an acceptable difference with the experimental mechanical loss. Therefore, air is a suitable backflow material for the journal bearing simulations. In summary, shear stress transport model with low-Reynolds number correction and air backflow should be used in the journal bearing simulations for accurate bearing predictions.