Abstract:
Formulation of the 3D lubrication model for spherical bearings was proposed. The rotation of the inner ring, the inner ring tilt caused by the axle journal misalignment and the swing angular velocity of the inner ring were taken into account in this model, and the modified Reynolds equation in the spherical coordinate system was obtained to depict non-Newtonian fluid lubrication. Moreover, with the lubrication model aforementioned, the lubrication problems of radial spherical plain bearings were analysed numerically based on the Ostwald rheological model for greases. The pressure distribution, the maximum pressure, the load capacity and the flow rate of the grease lubricant film were studied with variations of the grease power-law index, the inner ring inclination angle and the swing angular velocity, respectively. It is found that the grease lubricant film generates obvious hydrodynamic effects. With the other parameters fixed, the power-law index has significant influences on the maximum pressure and the load capacity of the grease film. Compared with Newtonian fluid, the shear-thickening fluid is observed to increase the values of film maximum pressure, load capacity and axial flow rate, but the shear-thinning fluid is observed to act contrarily. The inner ring inclination angle has little effect on the maximum pressure and the load capacity, while the swing angular velocity has much.