Design of journal Bearing

HYDRODYNAMIC JOURNAL BEARING

D Diameter of bearing
d Diameter of journal
l

Length of bearing

1. Diameteral clearance : It is the difference between the diameters of the bearing and journal.
C-D-d
2. Radial clearance : It is the difference between the radie of bearing and journal.
3. Eecentricity : It is the radical distance between the centre (o) of the bearing and the displaced
centre(o) of the bearing under load.
4. Short and long bearing: If the ratio of the length to diameter of the journal (i.e., )
(i)
Minimum Oil Film Thickness. It determines the closest approach of the journal and the
bearing surfaces with complete lubrication. Its value depends upon the degree of finish of these
surfaces and the rigidity of the journal and bearing construction, and on the size and kind of the
dirt particles present in the oil. If the bearing construction is quite rigid and if the oil is kept
clean, then the minimum oil film thickness for hydrodynamic lubrication, must be equal to or
greater than the sum of the average peak to valley roughness of the journal and bearing surface
i.e.
Cp = roughness peak factor
= ratio of peak to average roughness
= bearing and journal roughness respectively, mm.
To take into account, the dirt particles, shaft deflection, etc., a factor called clearance factor is
incorporated to increase the specified minimum film thickness, so
, where Ce = clearance factor.
For ordinary Babbitt lined bearings the film thickness should not be less than 0.02 mm. On larger
power machinery, the minimum film thickness may be limited to 0.025 to 0.15 mm. one rule of
the thumb is to limit the minimum film thickness to 0.00025D.
It has been found by investigators that, for bearings of certain geometry, the minimum oil film
thickness is a function of Bearing Modulus or Bearing service characteristic number (defined
ahead as equal to Zn/p), that is,

\ For hydro-dynamic lubrication to occur.

1.

Wedge-shaped gap should be formed between the sliding surfaces.

2.

A lubricant of adequate viscosity should continually be introduced into the gap.

3.

The relative speed of the journal should be enough to create the hydro-dynamic pressure in the
fluid film necessary to balance the external load.

Roughness Peak Factor Cp

Metallic Finish

Average Value, Cp

Typical range, Cp

Ground

4.5

3.5 5.0

Hydrolapped

6.5

5.5 7.5

Loose abrasive lapped

10.0

7.5 13.0

Sand papered

7.0

5.5 9.0

Super finished

7.0

5.5 9.5

Turned

5.0

3.5 8.0

Bearing Surface Roughness mm rms

(ii)

Type of surface

Surface Roughness

High Precision Journal

0.125 0.2

High Precision Bearing

0.125 0.5

Medium Precision Journal

0.4

Medium Precision Bearing

0.8

Commercial Grinding

0.4 1.6

Broaching, Reaming, Boring, Finish Turning

0.8 1.6

Bearing Modulus: It is designated as C and is defined as;

Bearing Modulus =

(8)

The bearing modulus is of special interest in bearing design. Its variation with co-efficient of
friction is shown in Fig. 17.11. For any given bearing, there is a value for bearing modulus
indicated by C, for which the co-efficient of friction is minimum. The bearing should not be
operated at this value of bearing modulus, since a slight decreases in speed or a slight increase in
pressure will make the journal to operate in the partial lubrication state resulting in high friction,
heating and wear.
To prevent this, the average value of
Bearing modulus should be,The values of C are given in Table 17.11.

p is in MPa
For large fluctuations and heavy impact loads,
The design data for Journal bearings is listed in Table 17.12
Values of C
Shaft

Bearing

Hardened and ground steel

Babbitt

2.85

Machined soft steel

Babbitt

3.60

Hardened and ground steel

Plastic Bronze

4.30

Machined soft steel

Plastic Bronze

5.00

Hardened and ground steel

Rigid Bronze

5.70

Machined soft steel

Rigid Bronze

7.00

Design Data for Journal Bearings

p
MN/m2

Locomotive

3.85

0.600

4.5 7.35

0.001 max.

1.6 1.8

Railway Car

2.1 3.5

0.500

7.00 14.30

0.001 max.

1.8 2.0

Aircraft

5.25 35

0.008

1.5

0.5 1.5

Automobile

10.5 24.5

0.008

1.5

0.001 max.

0.5 1.4

Diesel

10.35 28

0.020 0.060

0.75 1.43

0.001

0.8 1.5

Gas

8.4 12.6

0.020 0.60

1.43 2.85

0.001

0.8 1.5

Steam (HS)

2.8 8.4

0.030

0.85 2.14

0.001 max.

Steam (LS)

5.6 1.5

0.080

0.85 1.14

0.001 max.

1 1.25

Shears,
Punches

35 56

0.100

0.001

1- 2

4.2 12.6

0.025 0.030

2.25 3.00

0.001 max.

0.6 1.5

Bearing
Types

kg/ms

Axles:

Crankpins:

Crank shaft,
main
bearing
Aircraft

Automobile

2.1 12.6

0.025 0.0030

2.85 4.30

0.001 max

0.8 1.5

Diesel

2.45 8.4

0.022 0.060

2.14 2.85

0.001 max

0.8 1.5

Gas

3.5 7

0.020 0.060

2.85 4.30

0.001 max.

0.4 2.4

Steam (HS)

0.42 3.5

0.15 0.030

3.60 4.30

0.001 max.

1.3 1.7

Steam (LS)

0.56 2.8

0.070

2.85 4.30

0.001 max.

1.2 1.6

Shears,
Punches

14.0 28.0

0.100

0.001

1-2

Aircraft

20-70

0.007-0.008

1.14-2.14

0.001 max

0.6-1.5

Automobile

10.5-35

0.007-0.008

1.14-2.14

0.001 max.

0.8-1.5

Diesel

8.4-12.6

0.020-0.060

2.85-3.60

0.001 max.

0.8-1.4

Gas

8.4-14

0.020-0.060

0.75-1.43

0.001 max.

0.8-1.25

Steam (HS)

10.5-12.6

0.025

0.75

0.001

1.4-1.6

Steam (LS)

7-10.5

0.070

0.75

0.001

1.2-1.5

Generators

0.7 1.4

0.025

28.50

0.001

1-2

Line shafts

0.105 1.05

0.025-0.060

4.30-14.30

0.001

2.5-3

Reducing
Gears

0.56-17.5

0.030-0.050

5.70-43.00

0.001

2-4

Machine
Tools

0.35 2.1

0.040

0.3 1.43

0.001

1-3

Steam
Turbines

0.55-2.1

0.010-0.20

14.30-28.50

0.001

1-2

Rolling mills

21

0.050

14.30

0.0015

1.1-1.5

Wrist Pins:

Motors
Pumps

(iii)
Sommerfeld number or Bearing Characteristic Number: This is also a very useful
number in the design of sleeve bearings. It is defined as:
(9) n is rev/s and r is in N/m2.
Fig. 17.12 shows the graphs of the minimum film ratio versus Sommerfeld number, S for
bearings having various length diameter ratio . These graphs can be easily used for the design of
sleeve bearings. For example, corresponding to a known minimum permissible oil film thickness
h0 and an assumed radial clearance Cf a specific value of S can be obtained. Then if certain
quantities in Eqn. (17.9) are known, the remaining can be found out. Curves showing variation of
co-efficient of friction variable, oil flow variable, Temperature rise variable are also available.
(iv)
Operating pressures: The minimum operating pressure known as critical pressure is
the pressure at which the oil film breaks down and metal to metal contact begins. It is given
empirically as:

(10)
In the above equation, it is assumed that
(v) Coefficient of Friction: The co-efficient of friction is of great significance in bearing design.
Its value cant be determined very accurately since the degree of lubrication is generally not
known. For self contained full bearings, for hydrodynamic lubrication, the co-efficient of friction
is given empirically as:
(11)
Where kf = factor to correct for end leakage. Its value varies with Ratio.
Its value may be taken as 0.002 for . Its value can also be found out from Fig. 17.13.
For pressure fed hydrodynamic bearings, and hydrostatic bearings, the correction factor is not
considered, and, therefore, the co-efficient of friction is given as:
The co-efficient of friction for these conditions, is generally below than 0.001.
For lightly loaded bearings, the co-efficient of friction may be approximately calculated from
petroffs equation:
(13)
here p is N/m2.
When the bearing operate at boundary lubrication or partial lubrication conditions, the values of
f may be taken from table, which is due to Fuller.
Co-efficient of friction for partial lubrication conditions
Condition

Boundary lubricated, regularly attended

0.02 0.08

Bearing dried out containing a bare film of oil

0.08 0.14

Bearing completely dry with contamination and burned off

0.25 0.40

(vi)
Heating of Bearings: The factional work is converted into heat- This heat must be
dissipated from the bearing house to avoid its overheating because at high temperatures the oil
viscosity will decrease, making the oil to squeeze out resulting in negligible lubrication and
consequently seizing of the bearing. The usual operating temperature for bearings varies from 50
to 80C, The heal generated due to friction is given as :
Hg = f . F. V watts
where F = load in N = pLD, p in N/m2, L and D in m.
and V = Rubbing velocity, m/s
f will correspond to the type state of lubrication.
\ Heat generated is:
(14)

After thermal equilibrium, the heat will be dissipated at the same rate at which it is
generated. The heat dissipation will depend upon the method of lubrication
(a)
Self-contained bearings: In such bearings, the heat generated in the oil will be
transmitted to the bearing body from where it must be dissipated into the surrounding area. The
amount of heat dissipated will depend upon the temperature difference, size and mass of the
radiating surface, and on the air flow around the bearing. The rate of heat dissipation is given as :
Hd = kd DL(tb ta)

(15)

where tb = temperature of bearing oC

ta = temperature of surrounding, oC
where kd = energy dissipation co-efficient, W/m2oC Table 14.

Energy dissipation coefficient

Bearing Condition

kd

Simple Pillow block bearings:

Quiet Air

146.56 to 244.23

Air at 2.5 m/s

488.50 to 767.60

Heavy duty self aligning ring-oil lubricated:

Quiet Air

293.00 to 390.77

Air at 2.5 m/s

879.23 to 1228.13

The bearing temperature tb is frequently assumed to be the mean between the average oil
temperature t0 and the temperature of surroundings i.e.
For usual industrial applications, the upper limit of permissible oil temperatures ranges from
70C to 1.C. If the temperature is higher, bearing is cooled by water circulating through oils
built in the bearing or sing pressure feeding of the lubricant.
(b) Pressure Fed Bearings: The amount of heat removed by the circulating oil is:
H0 = r . f . (t0 . te), watts

*17)

where r = density of oil = 900 kg/m3.

f = specific heat of oil = 1.84 to 2.05 kJ/kgoC
Q = quantity of oil, m3/s
t0 te = outlet temperature of oil entrance temperature of oil) oC
The average oil film temperature may be taken as:
The upper limit of the permissible oil temperature for usual industrial applications ranges from
about 70 to 82Q C. If this temperature is exceeded, either the oil feed pressure or oil viscosity
must be changed. The oil '' is usually circulated through the bearings at pressures ranging from
0.07 to 0.7 N/mm2. Another method to avoid overheating of oil is to circulate 3 to 5 times the
amount of oil calculated from the equation (17.17). (vii) Design Procedure: There is no one
design procedure for the design of journal bearings. There can be unlimited design procedures.

Sommerfeld number, as discussed earlier, may be used for the bearing design. The design usually
involves :
1. Optimising clearance.
2. Optimizing bearing length, lubricating inlet slots, and
3. Calculation of energy balance.
Before we give the design procedure, the following design considerations should be kept in
mind : 1.
Lubricants: The lubricant to be used can be either liquid, solid or gas. The choice will
depend upon such factors as type of machine, method of lubricant supply and load
characteristics.
2.
Bearing load: The load coming on a bearing is usually specified. However, its value per
projected area can be determined by suitably selecting length and diameter of the bearing. The
value of load per projected area will depend upon the bearing life desired. It is clear that smaller
the load per projected area, the greater the bearing life and vice versa.
3.
Length to Diameter Ratio: This is a very important parameter in bearing design. Its value
lies between 0.8 and 1.5, with a value of unity being most common. Long bearing (L/D ratio
greater than 1) is used where misalignment must be avoided and a reduced load carrying capacity
can be tolerated, In short bearings (L/D<1), the danger of metal to metal contact due to large
shaft deflections is greatly reduced. So, a rought rule | for choosing a L/D ratio is:
(i) Use preferably, L/D =1.0
(ii) Use L/D<1 .0, if, deflections are expected to be severe
(ii)

Use L/D>1 .0, if shaft alignment is important

4. Clearance: The value of journal bearing clearance depends on: materials, manufacturing
accuracy, load carrying capacity, minimum film clearance, oil flow, film temperature etc. Large
clearance will allow foreign material to pass-easily through the bearing, the increased oil flow
will reduce film temperature and thus increase the bearings life. But a large clearance will result
in a loose, noisy bearing and a resulting decrease in minimum film thickness. A reasonable
clearance ratio (Cd/D) equal to 0.001 is most common.
When the bearing load, the diameter and speed of the shaft are known, the following design
procedure may be followed:
Design Procedure for Journal Bearing
When the bearing load, the diameter and speed of the shaft are known the following design
procedure may be followed.
(1)

Determine the bearing length by choosing a ratio of

(2)

Check the bearing pressure from table for probable sales factory value

(3)

Assume a clearance ratio from table

(4)

Assume a lubricant ail from table, and its operating temp, the ranged which has already been
mentioned from graph find the value of Z corresponding to the operating temp. assumed for the
selected oil.

(5)

Find and check this value with corresponding values in table to determine the possibility of
maintaining fluid film lubrication.

(6)

Determine coefficient of friction

(7)

Determine heat generated

(8)

Determine hat drum palled

(9)

Determine the thermal equilibrium to see that heat dissipated become at least equal to heal
generated.
References

1.
2.
3.
4.

Mechanical Engineering Design Joseph Shigley

Machine Design Mubeen
Machine Design Black
Principles of Lubrication Cameron A.