Advanced Model Experiment for the Research of Journal Bearings with Cavitation

The prediction of cavitation in journal bearings is one of the current challenges in the field of fluid dynamics. Hydrodynamic journal bearings are used in a wide range of industrial applications because they provide low friction and minimal wear. Suction cavitation is one potential cause of bearing failures. The work on hand presents a new experimental approach to study suction cavitation in a scaled bearing model. Moreover, mechanical and fluid dynamic similarity laws are described which enable the transfer of bearing operation conditions into the laboratory experiment.