International Journal of Rotating Machinery 
Volume 10 (2004), Issue 3, Pages 227-232
doi:10.1155/S1023621X04000247

Cavitation Effects on the Stability of a Submerged Journal Bearing

Jerzy T. Sawicki1 and T. V. V. L. N. Rao2

1Rotor-Bearing Dynamics and Diagnostics Laboratory Department of Mechanical Engineering, Fenn College of Engineering, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Ave., SH 245, Cleveland 44115-2214, OH, USA
2Mechanical Group, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India

Abstract

A computational procedure for the mechanism of shear between the liquid sublayer and air cavity in the cavitation zone of a submerged journal bearing is presented here. Using the mass conservation principle, Elrod's universal equation is modified to take into consideration the shear of the air cavity in the cavitation region. Results of steady state and transient response for the submerged journal bearing using the present approach are compared with the universal equation based on the striated flow in the cavitation region. At steady state, the angular extent of cavitation region predicted by the present approach is higher than that predicted by Elrod's model and the limit cycle journal transient response using the present approach predicts higher eccentricity ratios.