Influence of Roundness and Geometric Errors on Lubrication Performance of Engine Journal Bearings

Abstract

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">This paper focuses on the critical issue of lubrication performance in journal bearing manufacturing, employing numerical simulation techniques to investigate how manufacturing errors from processing accuracy impact lubrication behaviors. As core components in mechanical systems—especially diesel engine crankshaft bearings operating under complex conditions—journal bearings’ lubrication performance directly determines equipment stability, energy efficiency, and service life. Manufacturing deviations-induced poor lubrication can cause increased friction, severe wear, or even failures, underscoring the research’s practical value. The study constructs a refined numerical model based on the Navier-Stokes equations within the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) framework, ensuring it reliably depicts fluid flow in bearing clearances. It then systematically analyzes the lubrication responses of diesel engine crankshaft bearings under diverse operational scenarios, varying key manufacturing-related parameters: roundness degrees and clearance dimensions, which mimic real production discrepancies like tool wear or machining vibration. Additionally, the research explores shaft center trajectory variations under two extreme operating conditions, as shaft movement reflects the lubrication film’s loadbearing and stability capacities. Surface roundness and clearance are identified as pivotal to journal bearing performance: they significantly alter oil film thickness distribution—critical for avoiding metal contact—and determine the maximum fluid pressure within bearings, a key load-bearing indicator. Moreover, the amplitude and phase angle of roundness fluctuations (often overlooked) exert substantial impacts on lubrication stability and load-bearing properties, offering insights for optimizing manufacturing processes to mitigate such adverse effects:</div><div class="htmlview paragraph"/><div class="htmlview paragraph">-Journal bearings.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph"/><div class="htmlview paragraph">-hydrodynamic lubrication.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph"/><div class="htmlview paragraph">-Form error.</div></div>