The Effect of Viscoelasticity on the Performance of Dynamically Loaded Journal Bearings

In this paper we examine the question of whether the viscoelastic properties of multigrade oils can have a measurable effect on the performance of dynamically loaded journal bearings. Our investigation takes the form of a computational study in which the full set of coupled equations (kinematic and constitutive) governing the flow of the lubricant is solved using a moving spectral element method. The lubricant is modelled using the White-Metzner constitutive relationship.