The pressure field in thin fluid films can quite precisely be calculated by Reynolds fluid‐film equation. In some problems, it may be useful to couple thin fluid‐films with general 2D or 3D fluid flows. In the current work, we analyze the fluid flow, pressure and temperature field in a hydrodynamic journal bearing with a rectangular oil groove. Pressure and temperature in the fluid gap are calculated by means of the Reynolds equation and the 2D energy equation. Cavitation effects are taken into account by incorporating a 2‐phase cavitation approach. In order to calculate the velocity and pressure field in the oil groove, the 2D Navier‐Stokes equations are used; the temperature distribution in the oil groove is computed by means of the 2D energy equation. Appropriate coupling conditions for velocity, pressure and temperature are formulated in order to couple the flow in the fluid gap with the flow in the oil groove. Thermal expansion of journal shaft and bearing housing are also taken into account, since the bearing clearance changes with increasing temperature. (© 2011 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

AbstractThe isothermal form of Reynolds fluid film equation is used to predict the pressure generation in hydrodynamic journal bearings if temperature effects are neglected. Often, however, temperature effects may be important and cannot be neglected, because oil viscosity significantly varies with temperature. Also, thermal expansion of journal shaft and bearing housing must be taken into account since the bearing clearance changes with increasing temperature. Hence, the Reynolds pressure field equation, the energy equation for the fluid film and the heat transfer equations for journal and bearing housing have to be solved simultaneously. The coupled thermo‐hydrodynamic fluid flow problem is mathematically defined by a system of nonlinear integro‐differential equations. The governing equations are discretized and solved by a finite element approach. (© 2010 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Rotating disks are important components of car brakes or sawing units. In both cases, heat effects to be induced via stationary local contacts between pads and disk or workpiece and saw blade, respectively, influence the dynamic behavior and raise interesting problems in theory and practice. Therefore, the discussion of dynamic thermoelasticity in rotating disks with stationary heat sources is of basic interest to understand the interaction of temperature and displacement or stress fields in such structural elements. It will be analyzed here in detail for the case of an elastic disk for which there is a full (but weak) coupling of strain and temperature within the two applications mentioned. As a relatively general case, the combined excitation by a mechanical load and a simultaneously acting heat source will be examined.