Design of Sliding Contact

Bearings
 Introduction
• A bearing is a machine element which support another moving
machine element (known as journal). It permits a relative motion
between the contact surfaces of the members, while carrying the load.
• Due to the relative motion between the contact surfaces, a certain
amount of power is wasted in overcoming frictional resistance and if
the rubbing surfaces are in direct contact, there will be rapid wear.
• To reduce frictional resistance and wear and in some cases to carry
away the heat generated, a layer of fluid (known as lubricant) may be
provided.
• The lubricant used to separate the journal and bearing is usually a
mineral oil refined from petroleum, but vegetable oils, silicon oils,
greases etc., may be used.
 Classification of Bearings
1. Depending upon the direction of load to be supported.
a) Radial bearings, and (b) Thrust bearings.
2. Depending upon the nature of contact.
(a) Sliding contact bearings, and (b) Rolling contact bearings.
3. Types of Sliding Contact Bearings
4. The sliding contact bearings, according to the
thickness of layer of the lubricant
1. Thick film bearings. The thick film bearings are those in which the working
surfaces are
completely separated from each other by the lubricant. Such type of bearings
are also called as hydrodynamic lubricated bearings.
2. Thin film bearings. The thin film bearings are those in which, although
lubricant is present, the working surfaces partially contact each other atleast
part of the time. Such type of bearings are also called boundary lubricated
bearings.
3. Zero film bearings. The zero film bearings are those which operate without
any lubricant present.
4. Hydrostatic or externally pressurized lubricated bearings. The hydrostatic
bearings are those which can support steady loads without any relative
motion between the journal and the bearing. This is achieved by forcing
externally pressurized lubricant between the members.
5.Working Mechanism: Wedge Action
Hydrodynamic journal bearing.
Variation of coefficient of friction
with ZN/p.
6. Properties of Sliding Contact Bearing
Materials
1. Compressive strength: The maximum bearing pressure is
considerably greater than the average pressure obtained by
dividing the load to the projected area. Therefore the bearing
material should have high compressive strength to withstand
this maximum pressure so as to prevent extrusion or other
permanent deformation of the bearing.
2. Fatigue strength: The bearing material should have sufficient
fatigue strength so that it can withstand repeated loads
without developing surface fatigue cracks. It is of major
importance in aircraft and automotive engines.
3. Comformability: It is the ability of the bearing material to
accommodate shaft deflections and bearing inaccuracies by
plastic deformation (or creep) without excessive wear and
heating.
Properties…..
4. Embeddability. It is the ability of bearing material
to accommodate (or embed) small particles of dust,
grit etc., without scoring the material of the journal.
5. Bondability. Many high capacity bearings are
made by bonding one or more thin layers of a
bearing material to a high strength steel shell. Thus,
the strength of the bond i.e. bondability is an
important consideration in selecting bearing
material.
Properties…
6. Corrosion resistance. The bearing material should not corrode away
under the action of lubricating oil. This property is of particular
importance in internal combustion engines where the same oil is
used to lubricate the cylinder walls and bearings. In the cylinder, the
lubricating oil comes into contact with hot cylinder walls and may
oxidise and collect carbon deposits from the walls.
7. Thermal conductivity. The bearing material should be of high
thermal conductivity so as to permit the rapid removal of the heat
generated by friction.
8. Thermal expansion. The bearing material should be of low
coefficient of thermal expansion, so that when the bearing operates
over a wide range of temperature, there is no undue change in the
clearance.
Properties of metallic bearing materials.
7. Lubricants

• The lubricants are used in bearings to reduce friction

between the rubbing surfaces and to carry away the heat
generated by friction. It also protects the bearing against
corrosion.
• All lubricants are classified into the following three groups :
1. Liquid: Minerals oil & Synthetic oil
2. Semi-liquid : Grease (heavy viscosity), use where high
pressure and low velocity exist.
3. Solid: Graphite's are useful in reducing friction where oil
films cannot be maintained because of pressures or
temperatures.
8. Terms used in Hydrodynamic Journal
Bearing:
• A hydrodynamic journal bearing is shown in Fig, in
which O is the centre of the journal and O′ is the
centre of the bearing. Let D = Diameter of the
bearing,
d = Diameter of the journal, and
l = Length of the bearing.

• The following terms used in hydrodynamic journal

bearing are important from the subject point of view :
 Tutorials on Journal Bearing
1. Design a Journal bearing for a centrifugal pump
with the following data:
Diameter of journal = 150 mm; Load = 40 KN
Speed of the journal = 900 rpm

Given data:
Diameter of journal D = 150 mm
Load W = 40 KN
Speed of the journal N= 900 rpm
 Tutorials on Journal Bearing
Solution:
1. Diameter of journal, D = 150 mm
2. Length of the Journal L : (PSGDDB.7.31)

For Centrifugal pump , L/D = 1 to 2

Let us take L/D = 1.5
3. Length L = 1.5 x 150 = 225 mm
4. Bearing pressure, P = Load /Area = W /LxD

P = 40 x103 / 225 x150 = 1.185 N/mm2 = 11.82 Kgf /cm2

Allowable Pressure = 7 to 14 Kgf /cm2 ------7.31

 PSGDDB Page.No.7.31

Pressure = 11.82 Kgf /cm2 , Pressure is with in the limits (7 to 14 Kgf /cm2
5. Selection of Lubricating Oil
(Zn/P)min = 2844.5 (Centrifugal Pump)-------PSGDDB.7.31

(Z) Min = 2844.5 x 11.82 / 900 = 37.45 CP = 40 CP (Centipoise)

Viscosity Unit 1CP = 10-3 NS/m2 or kg/ms

For Z =40 CP and

Temperature = 600 C (assumed)

SAE 40 Oil is Selected

PSGDDB.No.7.41
5. Coefficient of Friction : PSGDDB.No.7.34

Let us take McKEES EQUATION

C –Diametral Clearance = 150 Microns =150 x10-3 mm

Assume from PSGDDB 7.32
D = 150 mm ; D/C = 150 / 150 x10-3 = 1000
K = 0.002 for L/D = 1.5
Coefficient of Friction = 0.0103

6. Heat Generated : PSGDDB.7.34

v - Surface speed of journal in m/min = 3.14 x D x N / 60 = 7.068 m/s

v = 7.068 m/s
W = 40000 N

Heat Generated , Hg= 2912.26 watts.

6. Heat Dissipated : PSGDDB.7.34

∆t = t0-ta = 60 -28 = 320C

L = 225 mm = 0.225 m ; D = 150 mm =0.150 m
K =437 PSGDDB.7.35
In S.I Units
K =0.273 for heavy construction
K = 0.484 for medium or light construction
Heat Dissipated Hd = 174.32 Watts
If Hg = Hd (Self contained bearing)
If Hg > Hd (Artifical cooling is required)
If Hg < Hd (No cooling is required)
Hg= 2912.26 watts ; Hd = 174.32 Watts
Hg > Hd Here the heat generated is more than the heat
dissipiated, artificial cooling arrangement must be provided. This cooling
 Tutorials on Journal Bearing
2. The load on a 100 mm full journal bearing is 9000N
with the following data :
N = 320 rpm ; L/D =1 ; C/D =0.0011; t0 = 65 0C ; Minimum
film thickness = 0.022 mm
i) Select an oil that will closely accord with stated conditions.
ii) For the selected oil, determine Friction loss
iii) Hydrodynamic flow through bearing
iv) Temperature rise as oil passes through bearing
v) Max Oil pressure
vi) Amount of leakage
Given data:
L/D =1.0 ; Diameter of journal D = 100 mm
Length of journal = 100 mm; Load W = 9000 N
Speed of the journal N= 320 rpm ; C/D =0.0011; t0 = 65 0C
Minimum film thickness h0 = 0.022 mm
 Tutorials on Journal Bearing
Solution:
C/D =0.0011; D = 100 mm
C = 0.0011 x 100 = 0.11 mm
Minimum film thickness h0 = 0.022 mm PSGDDB P.No.7.36

For, L/D = 1.0

2h0 / C = 0.4
S = 0.121
 Tutorials on Journal Bearing
i) Select an oil that will closely accord with stated conditions
S = 0.121,w.k.t, S-Sommer feld number (PSGDDB.7.34)

S=
N – speed of journal in rpm = 320 rpm
n‘ –speed of journal in rps = 320/60 = 5.33 rps

P = Load /Area = 9000 /LD = 9000/0.1 x 0.1 = 9 x 105 N/m2

D/C = 1/0.0011
Z = 0.121 x 9 x10 5 x (1/0.0011) 2 / 5.33

Z = 0.0247 Ns/m2 = 0.025 Ns/m2 = 25 CP

1CP = 10-3 Ns/m2 or kg/ms
For Z = 25 CP and t0 = 65 0C
i). Selection of Lubricating Oil PSGDDB.No.7.41

For Z =25 CP and

Temperature = 650 C
(given)

SAE 30 Oil is Selected

ii ) For the selected oil, determine Friction loss / Power lost in
friction: PSGDDB.7.36

μ D/C = 3.22
D/C = 1/0.0011
μ = 0.0035
Hg = μ w v
w = 9000 N
v = 3.14xDxN/60
v = 1.68 m/sec

Hg = 52.9 Nm/sec
iii ) Hydrodynamic flow through bearing: PSGDDB.7.36

4q/DCn’L = 4.33
D = 0.1 m
C = 0.11 x10-3 m
n’ = 5.33
L =0.1 m

q = 6.35x10-6 m 3
/sec
iv ) Temperature rise as oil passes through bearing

PSGDDB.7.36

∂C’ ∆t0 / P = 14.2

∂C’ = 14.2 kgf/cm3 0C
∂C’ = 14.2 x 104 N /m2 0C
Pressure P = 9 x 105 N/m2

∆t0 = 90C
iv ) Max Oil pressure
PSGDDB.7.36

P/ Pmax = 0.415

Pmax / P = 1 / 0.415
Pressure P = 9 x 105 N/m2
Pmax = 9 x 105 / 0.415

Pmax = 21.7 x 105 N/m2

vi ) Amount of leakage: PSGDDB.7.36

qs / q = 0.680

q = 6.35x10-6 m 3
/sec

qs = 0.68 x 6.35x10 -6

qs = 4.32 x 10 m /sec
6 3