Thermohydrodynamic Analysis of Process-Liquid Hydrostatic Journal Bearings in Turbulent Regime, Part II: Numerical Solution and Results

A finite difference scheme is implemented to solve the nonlinear differential equations describing the turbulent bulk-flow on the film lands of a hydrostatic journal bearing (HJB). A Newton-Raphson scheme is used to update the recess pressures and to satisfy the mass continuity requirement at each bearing recess. Comparisons of numerical predictions from the thermohydrodynamic (THD) model with experimental measurements of mass flow rate, fluid temperature, and static stiffness coefficient from a LH₂ test HJB article show very good agreement. In particular, the exit temperature of the bearing is lower than the supply temperature; i.e., the liquid temperature decreases along the bearing length. Similar values of direct stiffness and damping coefficients are predicted by the adiabatic THD model and other considering isothermal flow characteristics. However, the THD model predicts lower cross-coupled stiffness and whirl frequency ratio (WFR < 0.5). The results show that for the application presented, the LH₂ hydrostatic bearing is more stable than previously thought.