Design model of radial melt-lubricated bearing with account of pressure-viscosity ratio

Introduction. The development of the design model of the infinite radial bearing greased by the fusible coating melt with account of the lubricant pressure-viscosity ratio is considered. The parameters caused by the fusible coating melt of the bearing bush against the specific heat of fusion, and the lubricant pressure-viscosity ratio, are studied. The effect of these factors on the key operating data of the tribosystem is estimated. The work objective is the generation of the refined design models of infinite radial bearings operating in the hydrodynamic lubrication mode with a lubricant and a fusible coating melt of the bearing bush taking into account the lubricant pressure-viscosity ratio for the application in the engineering practice. Materials and Methods. New mathematical models describing the incompressible lubricant movement to the approximation for a thin layer, the equation of continuity, and the energy dissipation rate ratio, for determining the profile of the melted surface of the fusible coating of the bearing bush with account of the effect of several supplementary factors, are proposed. A comparative analysis of the newly obtained and already available results is performed. That has confirmed the approximation of the new model to the actual practice. Research Results. New multiparameter expressions for the key operating characteristics of the friction pair under study taking into account the lubricant pressure-viscosity ratio in the presence of a lubricant and a fusible coating melt of the bearing bushing are developed. The effect of the parameters considering a whole array of variables caused by the fusible coating melt of the bearing bushing on the specific heat of fusion is estimated. Discussion and Conclusions. The influence of the factors not yet studied which essentially complicates the task but makes its solution universal and required in the present-day tribological components, is summarized. The numerical analysis results of the obtained theoretical studies show that slider bearings operating on the fusible coating melt have an abnormally low friction factor (the friction coefficient depends on the parameter due to the melt which is close to linear). The obtained results can be used under the conditions when the lubricant supply involves some problems, in particular, in such branches as engineering, aircraft building, instrument making, etc.