Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication of a Connecting Rod Journal Bearing in Consideration of Shapes of the Bearing

Lubrication of a connecting rod bearing is analyzed by the theory of elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL). The hydrodynamic of a connecting rod bearing was calculated in consideration of not only the effects of bearing elastic deformation but also those of bearing shapes. Journal center loci were measured to confirm the accuracy of calculated results.

The governing equations of EHL are the Reynolds equation, the clearance gap equaution and the load equation. The effects of the shapes of a connecting rod bearing were included in the clearance gap equaution. The calculated results agree well with the measured results.

Results of this study show that lubrication of a connecting rod journal bearing is significantly influenced by bearing elastic deformation and shapes of a connecting rod bearing. As a result of parameter study, cap-shift which sometimes occures when bearing cap is assembled to connecting rod has significant influence on the connecting rod bearing performance from a lubrication viewpoint.