An Application of Short Bearing Theory to Effect of Variable

Permeability on Steady State Performance of Turbulent Hybrid

Porous Journal Bearings

Dr Anjani Kumar, Fellow

Prabhas Kumar, Non-member

The effect of variable permeability on steady state performance of turbulent hybrid porous journal bearings has been
investigated following Constantinescu’s turbulent lubrication theory. Variations in load capacity, friction parameter
and end flow are obtained as functions of bearing feed parameter, speed parameter, Reynolds number and aspect ratio
under the assumption of the short bearing approximation. It is observed that the effect of variable permeability in general
shows a decrease in load capacity and end flow; and an increase in friction coefficient when compared to the constant
permeability results.

Keywords: Variable permeability; Performance characteristics; Turbulent regime; Externally pressurized bearings; Porous bearings

NOTATION po : local film pressure above ambient, Pa

a : constant in equation (1) po : dimensionless fluid pressure in film region,
C : radial clearance, m po = po C 2 / µ UR
D : bearing diameter, m po′ : pressure of fluid in porous matrix above
ambient, Pa
eo : bearing eccentricity, m
po′ : dimensionless pressure in porous matrix,
Fs : shear force on journal surface, N po′ = po′ C 2 / µ UR

Fs : dimensionless shear force on the journal surface, ps : supply pressure above ambient, Pa
Fs = 2 C Fs / µ ULR p : load per unit projected area, P = W/LD
f : friction coefficient Q : end flow from bearing, m3/s
Gz : constant in turbulent Reynolds equation Q : dimensionless end flow, Q = LQ / 2UR 2C
H : thickness of the wall of the porous bearings, m Qc : flow through clearance space, m3/s
ho : local film thickness, m Qc : dimensionless flow through clearance space,
ho : dimensionless local film thickness, ho = ho / C Qc = µ LQc / C 3 Dp s
Qp : flow through porous wall, m3/s
h2 : dimensionless film thickness at the beginning of
the cavitated zone Qp : dimensionless flow through porous wall,
K y , K z : permeability in y and z directions, m2 Q p = µ LQ p / C 3 Dp s

Kz : dimensionless permeability in z-direction, R : shaft/journal radius, m

Kz = Kz / Ky Re, Re* : mean Reynolds number, local Reynolds
L : length of bearing, m number Re = ρUC / µ, Re* = ρUh / µ
L/D : aspect ratio S : Sommerfeld number, S = µ NR 2 / PC 2
N : revolution of journal, rps
U : shaft surface velocity, U = Rω , m/s
Dr Anjani Kumar and Prabhas Kumar are with Department of
Production Engineering and Management, National Institute of W : load on bearing, N
Technology, Jamshedpur 831 014, Jharkhand.
This paper was received on December 11, 2002. Written discussion on the W e2 2
: dimensionless load W = 2C W / µ UR L j
paper will be entertained till April 30, 2004. x, y, z : circumferential, radial and axial coordinates

Vol 84, January 2004 171

 y : dimensionless radial coordinate, y = y / H
2z
z : dimensionless axial coordinate, z =
L costly. In addition, the hydrodynamic pressure is not developed
λs e
: bearing speed parameter λ s = 6 µ UR / p s C
2
j within the recess, but only in the film land regions, giving
β : bearing feed parameter, β = 12 K y R 2 / C 3 H ,
dimensionless
εo : eccentricity ratio, ε o = e o / C , dimensionless
θ : dimensionless circumferential coordinate,
θ = x/R
θ2 : angular extent of uncavitated film
τ : shear stress, N/m2
τc : Couette surface shear stress, N/m2
τc : dimensionless surface shearing stress,
τ c = τ c h / µU
ω : angular velocity of shaft, rad/S
µ : absolute viscosity of fluid, N-S/m2
ρ : fluid density
INTRODUCTION
In porous bearings, the usual method of finding the
permeability is to close the ends and measure the flow through
the wall caused by pressurizing a fluid in the core. The value
obtained represents the average radial permeability of the
porous bearing. In calculating the load capacity of porous
bearings it is usually assumed that permeability is constant
throughout the structure of the bearings and the magnitude is
equal to the average radial permeability obtained from
experiments.
Normally, porous bearings are manufactured by the
compaction of metal powder in a die by the application of
pressure along the axis of the die. The applied pressure is
generally not transmitted equally throughout the compact and,
therefore, the permeability of the bearings varies along their
length and wall thickness. The magnitude of this variation is a
function of H/R, L/D and length of bearings1. Since, the wall
thickness H, of porous bearings is usually small compared to
their length L, it is usually assumed that the permeability is
almost constant across the wall thickness and the only
significant variation may occur along the length of bearings.
Therefore, it is of interest to compare the performance
characteristics of non-homogeneous porous bearings to that of
isotropic and homogeneous bearings.
Self-lubricated porous bearings in which pores are impregnated
with oil are widely used in industrial applications where
periodic lubrication is restricted or impractical and where their
low cost makes them economically viable. Hydrostatic or
hybrid (combined hydrostatic and hydrodynamic) journal
bearings have become the subject of increased attention because
of their potential application as support elements in cryogenic
high-speed turbomachinery to provide substantial load
capacity.
172
In conventional externally pressurized bearings, the design of
orifice- or capillary-compensated bearings is complicated and
unevenly distributed pressure in the lubricant film. Here, the
design can be simplified by using porous materials in externally
pressurized lubrication; the lubricant can flow through a large
number of pores, giving rise to more even pressure distribution
on the journal surface, utilizing the hydrodynamic effect fully
in the film region.
Porous bearings for hybrid operation have some limitations. It
is difficult to produce two identical bearings of specified perme-
ability and porosity; and also the permeability decreases with
the length of service life of the bearings due to the obstruction of
pores by local deformation. Low-viscosity fluids can flow more
easily through the myriad, very small and tortuous passages of
the porous bush, but the purity of the lubricant must be
maintained for longer service of the porous bushes, because the
pores of the bushes may become choked by impurities in the
lubricant. However, the porous bushes can be replaced easily at
regular intervals for better performance.
Investigation has been made on the effect of variable
permeability on the performance of porous bearings2. A
mathematical analysis on the effect of rotation and variable
permeability of porous bearings has also been reported under
the assumptions of short bearing approximation3. It has been
observed that the effect of variable permeability is more
pronounced in the anisotropic case compared to the isotropic
case. These investigations2,3 were confined to laminar flow
regimes and the Galerkin’s method had been adopted in
obtaining the solution. A new type of self-lubricated porous
metal bearings has been introduced to improve the tribological
behaviour of porous bearings4 , with special non-uniform
distribution of permeability. It has been observed theoretically
and experimentally that these new bearings have lower friction
and higher load capacity.
Performance characteristics of both hydrodynamic and hybrid
porous journal bearings have been presented in turbulent
regimes5-9, but the variable permeability has not been consid-
ered. However, the effect of variable permeability on steady
state performance of turbulent hydrodynamic porous journal
bearings has been analysed following Constantinescu’s
turbulent lubrication theory under the assumption of the short
bearing approximation10. It is observed that the effect of variable
permeability is more pronounced with increase in bearing
parameters such as b, H/R and eo .
In the present paper, an attempt has been made to investigate the
effect of variable permeability on steady state performance of
turbulent hybrid porous journal bearings.
THEORY AND COMPUTATIONAL WORK
Governing Equations
Figure 1 shows schematically a hybrid porous journal bearing
under steady state operating conditions. The flow through the
porous matrix is assumed to be viscous and laminar. The oil
film in the clearance space of the bearing is turbulent.
IE (I) Journal—MC
 Ps
x 12 K y R 2 6 µ UR 2
θ = ,β= , λ s = , D = 2R
R C3 H C 2 ps
θ
Equations (3) and (4) can be reduced to non-dimensional form as
φ
x y
FG R IJ 2
∂ 2 p o′ FG D IJ 2
∂ 2 p o′
ω HHK ∂ y2
+
H LK K z 1 + a cos( π z / 2 )
∂z2

FG D IJ
Ob
2
θ
e0 π ∂ 2 po′

h
R Oj
s
φ0
−
H LK K z a sin ( π z / 2 )
2 ∂z2
=0 (5)
co
φ0
F ∂ p′ I
W
W
sin
φ0 FG D IJ 2
∂ 2 po′ λ s ∂ ho β
GH ∂ y JK
ho3 G z
H LK
o
= +
W
∂z 2
12 ∂ θ 12 (6)
y=0

Film Region Constantinescu12 indicated the expression for Gz as

Porous Bearing

r 1 / G z = 12 + 0.0198 (Re* )0.741 (7)

Line of Centres

Figure 1 Schematic diagram of hybrid porous journal bearings under Since, the journal axis is parellel to the bearing axis, the pressure
steady state operating conditions distribution is symmetrical about the mid-plane and it is
sufficient to evaluate the pressure over half of the surface. The
boundary conditions for the porous matrix are
The permeability in the axial direction is given by
b g
po′ −1, z = 1 (subjected to supply pressure ps )
K ( z ) = K z 1 + a cos( π z / L ) (1)
o p ′ b y , ± 1g = 0 (ambient) (8)
where a is a constant and its value is taken as unity in the β
analysis. The boundary conditions for the oil film region are
The permeability in the radial direction is
b g
po ± 1 = 0 (ambient) (9)
K ( y ) = K z [1 + 2 / π ] (2)
For the film-bearing interface
Equations (1) and (2) approximate the curves given by Morgan1
for the permeability variation along the lengths of porous bearings.
b g
po′ 0, z = po ( z ) (10)

The generalized differential equations for hybrid porous Equations (5) and (6) are solved numerically using the finite
journal bearings can be written as (based on the short bearing difference method, satisfying the boundary conditions given by
approximation)11 equations (8)-(10). A successive over-relaxation scheme is
adopted to accelerate the convergence of the iteration method

Ky
∂ 2 po′
+
∂ LM ∂p ′
K z ( 1 + a cos ( πz / L )) o = 0
OP (3)
and to obtain the pressure distribution po .
∂y 2 ∂z N ∂z Q BEARING CHARACTERISTICS
for the porous matrix and The steady state characteristics are calculated from the pressure
distribution po .
∂ LM ho3 G Z ∂p o OP = U ∂ ho Ky FG ∂p ′ IJ
o
∂z MN µ ∂z PQ 2 ∂x
+
µ H ∂y K y=0
(4) Load Carrying Capacity
The total load carrying capacity is given by
in the film region, where Gz is turbulence coefficient. Using the
non-dimensional terms e
W = W r2 + Wθ2 j 0.5
(11)

po′ p y 2z h K where Wr and Wθ are dimensionless loads along and normal

po′ = , po = o , y = , z = , ho = o , K z = z ,
ps Ps H L C Ky to the line of centres, respectively.

Vol 84, January 2004 173

Coefficient of Friction 30 e0 = 0.7
Constantinescu and Galetuse13 have shown that the shearing
stress acting on the surface can be represented by
25 H / R = 0.2
L / D = 1.0
µU h ∂po
τ=− τc ± o (12)
Re = 5000
πz
ho 2 ∂x K(z) = K z (1 + cos )
L
20 2
K(y) = K z (1 + )
where π

Load parameter, W
Hydrodynamic porous journal bearing
results (Kumar & Pramod Ref 10)
τ c = 1 + 0.0023 (Re* )0.855 (13) 15 Present analysis

Since, the oil film cavitates beyond θ = θ 2 forming a

discontinuous mixture of lubricant, vapour, air etc, the friction 0.5
10
occurs in two distinct regions (i) the lubricant film extending
from θ = 0 to θ = θ 2 ; and (ii) the cavitated region from θ = θ 2
to θ = 2 π . Friction for the first region is given by 0.3
5

θ
F I
z z GGH h2 ∂p λ s τc
JJ d θ d z
1 2
o o
F s1 = 2 +
0 0 ∂θ 6 ho K (14) 0
0.001 0.01 0.1 1.0
Bearing feed parameter, β
Friction for the second region is computed as14
Figure 2 Variation of load capacity with bearing feed parameter for

Fh I Fh I different values of eccentricity ratio

z z GGH h JJK ∂p λ s τc
1 2π
Fs 2 = 2 2
GG 2 o o
+ JJ d θ d z The dimensionless load, the flow and the friction forces are
0 θ
2 o H ∂θ 6 ho K (15)
calculated by numerical integration using Simpson’s one-third
rule, once the pressure distribution in the film region is known.
The total friction is given by
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Fs = Fs 1 + Fs 2 (16) To check the validity of results produced by computer
and program, data for hydrodynamic porous journal bearings
operating in turbulent flow regime were generated and

b R / C g f = WF s
(17)
compared with previously available results. The program could
consider hydrodynamic porous bearing condition by letting
λ s = 6.0 in the generalised program. The results thus obtained
End Flow (Figure 2) are in excellent agreement with the published results
Normally the bush ends are kept sealed and there is no oil flow of Kumar and Pramod10.
in the axial direction. However, the end seals go off with time. The results presented in the present paper are for a particular
Therefore, open ends of bush are considered here to give conser- permeability variation in the axial direction and a constant
vative results. permeability in the radial direction. Certainly, no generalisa-
The end flow from the bearing results from (i) clearance space; tion can be made about all porous bearings since one would
and (ii) the open ends of the bush. Flow through the clearance expect the permeability variation to be different for each
space is given by bearing.
The steady state performance of bearings depends on
z
θ2
F∂p I
Qc = −
1
6 0
ho3 GH ∂ z JKo

z =1
dθ
(18)
parameters, such as, β , Re, L/D and λ s . In the present analysis
a parametric study was carried out by varying these parameters.

and flow through the open ends of the bush is given by Effect of Bearing Feed Parameters, β

FG β IJ FG H IJ z z FGH ∂∂pz IJK

2 θ2 0 The effect of variable permeability in the analysis in general
H 6K H R K
o
Qp = − Kz dy d θ (19) shows a decrease in load carrying capacity and end flow; and an
0 −1 z =1 increase in friction coefficient when compared to the constant
permeability results (Figures 3-11).
The total flow is given by
The effect of variable permeability on load capacity, friction
Q = Qc + Q p (20) parameter and end flow are small at lower values of β ( β ≤ 0.2 ) ,

174 IE (I) Journal—MC

 4.5
Re = 50000 LMK(z) = K z (1 + cos πz / L ) LMK(z) = K z (1 + cos πz / L )
NK(y) = K z ( 1 + 2π ) NK(y) = K z ( 1 + 2π )
K(z) = K(y) = Kz (1 + 2 / π) K(z) = K(y) = Kz (1 + 2 / π)
40000 H/R = 0.2 H/R = 0.2
4.0 L /D = 1.0 3 L /D = 1.0
εo = 0.5 εo = 0.5
λs = 1.0 λs = 1.0

3.5 30000

3.0 2

Flow rate, Q
Load parameter, W

15000
2.5

10000
Re = 50000
2.0 1
40000
5000
30000
15000
1.5 10000
1000 5000
1000

0
1.0
0.03 0.1 1.0 3.0 0.03 0.1 1.0 3.0
Bearing feed parameter, β
Bearing feed parameter, β
Figure 5 Variation of end flow with bearing feed parameter for
Figure 3 Variation of load capacity with bearing feed parameter for
different values of Re
different values of Re
LMK(z) = K
14
z (1 + cos πz / L )
56
LMK(z) = K z (1 + cos πz / L ) NK(y) = K z ( 1 + 2π )
NK(y) = K z ( 1 + 2π ) K(z) = K(y) = Kz (1 + 2 / π)
K(z) = K(y) = Kz (1 + 2 / π) Re = 20000
L/D = 2.5
H/R = 0.2 12 H/R = 0.2
48 L /D = 1.0 εo = 0.5
εo = 0.5 λs = 1.0
λs = 1.0
10
40
2.0
Load parameter, W

8
32
(R/C) f

6
24 1.5

4
16 00
= 500
Re 1.0
00
400
00
300
00 0
150 1000 2
8
5000
0.5
1000
0.25
0 0
0.03 0.1 1.0 3.0 0.03 0.1 1.0 3.0
Bearing feed parameter, β Bearing feed parameter, β

Figure 4 Variation of friction parameter with bearing feed parameter Figure 6 Variation of load capacity with bearing feed parameter for
for different values of Re different values of L/D ratio

Vol 84, January 2004 175

 105
LMK(z) = K z (1 + cos πz / L )
LMK(z) = K z (1 + cos πz / L )
L/D = 0.25 NK(y) = K z ( 1 + 2π ) NK(y) = K z ( 1 + 2π )
K(z) = K(y) = K z (1+ 2 / π ) λ s = 10.0 K(z) = K(y) = K z (1+ 2 / π )
Re = 20000 20
H/R = 0.2 Re = 20000
90 ε o = 0.5 L / D = 1.0
7.0
λ s = 1.0 H / R = 0.2
ε o = 0.5
75

Load parameter, W
60 0.5
3.0

10
(R/C) f

45

1.0

30 1.0

0.5
1.5

15 2.0
0.1
2.5
0
0.03 0.1 0.3 0.6 1.0 2.0 3.0
0
0.03 0.1 1.0 3.0 Bearing feed parameter, β
Bearing feed parameter, β
Figure 9 Variation of load capacity with bearing feed parameter for
Figure 7 Variation of friction parameter with bearing feed parameter
for different values of L/D ratio different values of speed parameter, λ s

LMK(z) = K
30.0
z (1 + cos πz / L ) but for β > 0.2 these changes become significant (Figures 3-5).
NK(y) = K z ( 1 + 2π )
The effect of variable permeability on particularly friction
K(z) = K(y) = Kz (1 + 2 / π)
10.0 Re = 20000 parameter, (R/C) f, is observed much more significant at higher
H/R = 0.2
εo = 0.5 Reynolds number, Re ≥ 30 000 with β > 0.2 (Figure 4).
λs = 1.0
Effect of Reynolds Number, Re
L/D = 2.5 The effect of variable permeability on the performance of
turbulent hybrid bearings for various values of Reynolds
2.0 numbers has been depicted in Figures 3-5. It shows an increase
1.0 in the effect on load capacity, friction parameter and flow rate
1.5
with increasing Reynolds number.

When bearing is operating at higher Reynolds number,

Flow rate, Q

1.0 ( Re ≥ 30 000 ) the friction parameter drops sharply with

increasing β at β > 0.2 (Figure 4).

0.1 0.5 Effect of Aspect Ratio, L/D

It can be observed from Figures 6-8 that an increase in L/D ratio
increases the load carrying capacity and flow rate, but reduces
the friction coefficient. Secondly, the effect of variable
0.25
permeability on the performance of bearings is noticed to be
small at lower β , but it becomes significant with increasing β .
0.01
0.03 0.1 1.0 3.0 The friction parameter with variable permeability is much
Bearing feed parameter, β higher compared to constant and homogeneous permeability
Figure 8 Variation of end flow with bearing feed parameter for
different values of L/D ratio
results for aspect ratio 0.5 and 0.25 (Figure 7).

176 IE (I) Journal—MC

 LMK(z) = K z (1 + cos πz / L )
Effect of Speed Parameter, λ s
NK(y) = K z ( 1 + 2π )
The effect of variable permeability on steady state performance
K(z) = K(y) = K z (1+ 2 / π )
1000.0 of porous hybrid bearings for various values of λ s are shown in
Re = 20000
Figures 9-11.
L / D = 1.0
H / R = 0.2 The effect of variable permeability on W , (R/C) f and Q are
ε o = 0.5
small for any values of λ s , which is almost insignificant with
λ s = 10.0
7.0
increase in β (Figures 9-11).

100.0
3.0 CONCLUSIONS
1.0 1. The effect of variable permeability is to decrease load capacity
(R/C) f

and end flow; and increase (marginal) the coefficient of friction

0.5
of turbulent porous hybrid bearings. Secondly, turbulence
makes the effect more significant with increase in bearing feed
parameter β , particularly when β > 0.2 . The friction
10.0
parameter becomes further significant at higher Reynolds
number ( Re ≥ 30 000 ). Therefore, in the analysis of turbulent
porous journal bearings having a bearing feed parameter
0.1 β > 0.2 should include the variable permeability of the bush for
better analysis.
2. Load capacity, friction coefficient and end flow are also
1.0 affected by L/D ratio. The effect of variable permeability on
0.03 0.1 1.0 3.0
friction parameter is greater at lower L/D ratio of porous
Bearing feed parameter, β
bearings. Therefore, short bearings operating in turbulent lubri-
Figure 10 Variation of friction parameter with bearing feed parameter
cation regime should include the variable permeability in the
for different values of speed parameter, λs
analysis.
λ s = 10.0 3. The results indicate that, for the case analysed, use of radial
permeability having a magnitude equal to the average axial
7.0
10.0 permeability, will result to overestimated steady state
characteristics of porous bearings in turbulent regimes.
3.0
REFERENCES
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1.0 Wear, vol 155, 1992, pp 7-14.

4. Q Yong-Xin and W Pei-Ming. ‘Theoretical Analysis and Experimental

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IE (I) Journal—MC