This chapter deals with a simplified methodology for the determination of optimum values of design parameters of spherical seating of hydrodynamic journal bearings. This methodology is developed on the basis of the minimum value of moment of friction and the friction moment constant in the spherical seating.
The optimum value for the radius of the spherical seating is determined from the inner and outer radii of the bearing and the angles formed by them, at the centre of spherical seating, with the axis of rotation. The optimum value of the axial length of the spherical seating is determined as a fraction of the bearing length, by equating the transverse load on the projected area of the bearing to that of the spherical seating. Nomographs are plotted for easy evaluation of the optimum values of the radius and axial length of spherical seating, by using the ratio of the outer diameter to the inner diameter, length and inner diameter of the bearing. Also, it is shown that an increase in the ratio of outer diameter to inner diameter, with a constant inner diameter, increases the minimum value of friction moment constant as well as the radius of the spherical seating, but reduces its axial length.
The design methodology given in this chapter, in addition to giving an approach for the determination of the optimum values of design parameters of spherical seating, acts as an effective tool to predict the performance of spherical seating of a hydrodynamic journal...
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