Effect of couple stress on the thermo-hydrodynamic performance of journal bearings

The effect of the couple stress on the thermo-hydrodynamic performance of a finite journal bearing is studied in this paper. The oil film energy equation based on the couple stress fluid model is solved with the Reynolds equation including the couple stress effects and the heat transfer equation in the bushing. The result gives the oil film pressure distribution and the temperature distribution in both the oil film and the bushing. The model was used to analyze the different effects due to Newtonian fluid and couple stress fluid on the oil film pressure, the temperature field and the load capacity. The results show that couple stress fluids yield higher oil film pressures and slightly higher maximum bearing temperatures.