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D. Dowsox
Mechanical Engineering Department, The University of Leeds, Leeds 2
Summary-In tho analysis of fluid-film bearings the basic equation employed is known
as tho Reynolds equation. This equation, which governs the generation of pressure in
the lubricant film, is encountered in numerous forms each applicable to a particular set
of circumstances only. The study of fluid-film lubrication suffers from this multiplicity
of Reynolds-type equations, and the influence of different physical mechanisms associated
with pressure generation is frequently masked by the difference in form of the initial
equations. In recent years a further mechanism of pressure generation associated with
the variation of fluid properties across the film has been suggested, and this has resulted
in new forms of the pressure equation. In this paper a generalized form of Reynolds
equation is developed which permits the variation of relevant quantities across, as well
as along, the lubricant film. This equation is derived from the fundamental equations of
hydrodynamics with a minimum of restrictive assumptions, and it will be seen that it
can be reduced to any of the forms currently employed in the analysis of fluid-film bearings.
INTRODUCTION
THE differential equation governing pressure distribution in a fluid-film bearing
was presented by Reynolds! in his classical paper in 1886. This equation was
formed by a marriage of the equations of motion and mass continuity for a
viscous fluid. Reynolds neglected inertia and gravitational effects in relation
to viscous action, and he restricted his analysis to an isoviscous, incompressible
fluid: The adequacy of these assumptions was demonstrated repeatedly by
the satisfactory explanation of bearing performance throughout the next half-
century, and even today the majority of bearings can be analysed within the
framework of these assumptions. However, the increased severity of bearing-
operating conditions, the greater use of gas bearings, and the observation that
parallel-surface thrust bearings carry load contrary to the predictions of the
Reynolds equation has called for a re-examination of the basic equation of
fluid-film lubrication.
In 1949 the increased interest in thermal effects in lubricating films and the
thermal-wedge concept proposed by Fogg", led Cope" to a re-statement of the
basic equations concerned with pressure and temperature distribution in fluid
films. Cope relaxed the assumptions made by Reynolds to the extent that he
allowed for variations of viscosity and density along the film. The variation
of pressure and lubricant properties across the film was still neglected. In
addition Cope assumed that the velocity across the film and its derivatives
were negligible. The assumption that the velocity component across the film
is small compared with the components along the film is reasonable, and indeed
it was employed by Reynolds, but it is not correct to neglect the first derivative
159
160 D. Dowsox
When the first equation is reduced to comply with this assumption it takes
the form
u x
Similar expressions apply for the y and z components. The order of magnitude
of the viscous terms in the equations of motion can be investigated by defining
the following dimensionless terms:
_ x
- y _ z
x= X u> y z=Z
_ u _ v _ tv
u=u v= V tv=JV
- p - p
P=- TJ- = TJ- p=-
Po TJo ])0
- t
t= T
where the basic values U, X, Po' etc., are selected to make the terms ii, X, p, etc.,
less than or equal to unity.. 'Vith these definitions the first equation of motion
can be written as
A generalized Reynolds equation for fluid-film lubrication 163
Normally X and Yare of similar magnitude (L) and both are several orders
greater than h. Furthermore, for bearings covered by this general specification
U will exceed V and consequently (X/h)2 will be very much larger than (X/Y)2,
(X/Y) (V/U) and unity. The relative importance of the remaining viscous
terms, which are of order of magnitude (X/h) (lV/U), can be judged from the
form of the continuity equation. In dimensionless terms the continuity
equation becomes
op = ~ (aU)
ox oz 7J OZ
(1)
op a (OV)
oy = OZ 7J OZ
A similar order of magnitude analysis shows that more of the viscous terms
must be retained in the third equation of motion at this stage. The equation
becomes
op 2 a (OW OU) 2 0 (OW 8V) 0 (OV) a7J (OU)
oz = 3 oz7J az- ox +3 oz7J oz -oy +oy'YJ 8z +ox OZ (2)
By comparing the terms on the right-hand side of equations (1) and (2),
it can be seen that the pressure gradient across the film is only hlL times the
IG4 D. Dowsox
order of magnitude of tho pressure gradient along the film. Since li ~L the
variation of pressure across tho lubricant films is quite insignificant. On inte-
grating (2) we obtain tho following equation for p:
p = o:(x,y,z)+A(x,y)
where
1
A(x,y) = li)oPdz- r
1
h
li
f
o:(x,y,z)dz
= 1i - a
where the bar indicates the mean value of the function across the film. Hence
the expression for p becomes
p = p + ex (x, y, z) - a(x, y) (3)
'When the full expressions for 0: and a are introduced, it can be seen that the
second term on the right-hand side is only (hJL)2 times the first term. Hence
with the same degree of approximation as we employed in writing (1) we have
oj) = ~( OU)
ox OZ 7J OZ
(4)
op OV)
0 (
oy = oz 7J oz
where the mean pressure across the oil film p has replaced p. The relationship
between p and p is recalled by (3).
The gradients of the velocity components 1 and v across the film can now
be found by integrating (4).
au
-=--+--
z op B(x, y)
OZ 7J ox 7J
(5)
ov C(x, y)
z op
-=--+--
OZ 7J oy 7J
TT
U = u l+op- IZ z .uz+ (U-z-- -o.- z-OP)
- - IZ -dz
ex 01] Fo ox 01]
(6)
v = op IZ -dz+
Ti +- z (T~-
- -Ti- z - IZ -dz
- OP)
ey 0 1] F oy 0 1] o
where
F
o
= fh d z ,
Jo 1]
The velocities quoted in the above boundary conditions are normally interpreted
as the surface velocities of the bounding solids. This implies that there is no
slip between the lubricant and the solids at their common boundaries.
Returning now to the continuity equation and integrating with respect to
z between the limits 0 and li,
Io ot
I. 0
~dz+h [o(
~+~U) o( V)]
ox oy
--0
ox
lit [OU
0 p j}z
0 ] dz-
z-+zu~
oz
The expressions for u and v and their derivatives can now be introduced
from equations (5) and (6) and the equation then becomes
(7)
166 D. Dowsox
where
Fo = rhdz
Jo TJ
="Z~
hz dz
F1 = r
Jo TJ
i
h
pz -
F2 = -(z-z)dz
o TJ
-Fa = r h
pZ dz
Jo TJ
Equation (7) represents the generalized form of the basic equation of fluid-
film lubrication. It allows for variations in fluid properties along and across
the film. It will be noted that it is written in terms of two sets of functions F
and G. All the G functions contain op{oz and since the density is sensibly
constant across the fluid film in the great majority of lubrication conditions
they can be neglected. 'I'hey are, however, retained in (7) for generality. The
functional relationship between p, TJ and z must be known before the integrals
can be evaluated. When the variation of p and TJ with z is negligible"the integrals
can be evaluated analytically to give the well-known form of the Reynolds
equation. In other eases the integrals may have to be evaluated numerically,
and in special circumstances the variation of fluid properties across the film
may be the dominant factor in pressure generation. In such cases the solution
of the generalized equation (7), which combines the equations of mass continuity
and conservation of momentum, must proceed simultaneously with a solution
of the energy equation and the equation of state. Before some particular cases
are considered the assumptions made in the analysis will be summarized.
DE
P-
[0ox (O~
Dt--J -. kox oye (OB
- +- koy oza (O~]
- +- - - p (au
koz ov OW)
-+-+-
ox oy oz + 1>
where
2 2
1> = {(OU)2
7) OZ
+ (OU) + (OV)2 + (OV)2 + (OW) + (OW)2 +
oy ox OZ ox oy
+ 2 (au ov + OV ow + ow aU) + ~ [aU (OU _OV) + OV (OV _OW) + ow (OW _OU)]}
oy ox OZ oy ox OZ 3 ox ox oy oy oy oz oz oz ox
The term on the left-hand side is the convection term and on the right-hand
side we have the conduction, compressibility and viscous dissipation terms.
Variations of thermal conductivity are normally negligible in fluid-film bearings
and the conduction term becomes J kV 2 T. If the lubricant can be treated as an
incompressible fluid the second term vanishes. An order of magnitude analysis
clearly shows that the dissipation function can be reduced to
~ (Fo OP)
ox -ox
= 11 o(pU2 ) _~
ox ax
[FF (0. - 0,)] + P[lVo-
3
2 1-
TV ]
1
o
For the thrust bearing analysed by Zienkiewiez U2 = 0 and n~ = n~ = 0;
hence
~
ax zox(R oft) _~ (F 0,) -ox}~
3
1
ox 127J ax oy 127J oy ox oy ax 2
_~ [P1l(J~ - Ji)] l op [JJ' _ J.JT]
oy 2 + t at + p 2 1
- 67J ! [h(U
uX
2- U1 ) ] - 67J ,;>0
uy
[1z(T~ - Ti)] + 127J[H; -Hi]
z=O U1 = ti; Ti = 0 Hi = 0
z=h U.2 = TT
VI
TT2 = 0 TrT2 _
-
TT
VI
olz + TTI
oX
hence
This is the equation (17) derived by Reynolds'. It forms the basis for the
vast majority of investigations in hydrodynamic lubrication. For hydrostatic
bearings the equation can be further reduced as follows below.
Hydrostatic-bearing analysis. For purely hydrostatic action h = a constant
and with H~ = 0 the equation becomes
170 D. DOWSON
Often hydrostatic bearings possess axial symmetry, and in such cases the
equation has the simple form
!- (1' OP) = 0 dp a constant
or or or dr = r
CONCLUSION
The analysis has shown that a generalized Reynolds equation can be derived
from the basic equations of fluid mechanics with few restrictive assumptions.
The equation will reduce to any of the equations currently employed in the
calculation of pressure distribution in lubricating films. This provides a
desirable unity in the subject of fluid-film lubrication.
REFERENCES
1. O. REYNOLDS, TrailS. Roy. Soc. 177, 157 (1886).
2. A. FOGG, Proc, Inst. jlIech. Enqre, 155, 49 (1946).
3. W. F. COPE. Proc. Roy. Soc. A 197,201 (1949).
4. G. H. WAN1\IER, Quart. Appl, Math. 8. 1 (1950).
5. J. H. HALTON, Enqineerinq 186. 59 (1958).
6. O. C. ZIE:NKIEWICZ. Proc, GOIlJ. Lubric, Wear p. 135. Institute of Mechanical Engineers.
London (1957).
7. R. 1. TANNER. Int. J. 111ech. Sci. I. 206 (1960).
8. A. A. l\IIL~""E, Amer. Soc. Mech , Enqrs, J. Basic. Engng. 81 (Series D). 239 (1959) .
9. H. G. ELROD, Quart. Appl. sisn: 17, 349 (1960).
10. l\L C. SHAW and F. MACKS. Analysis Gnd Lubrication oj Bearings p. 198. l\leGruw-HilI,
New York (1949).