Open Access

ARTICLE

Effects of Non-Newtonian Ferrofluids on the Performance Characteristics of Long Journal Bearings

J.R. Lin¹, P.J. Li², T.C. Hung³

1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Taoyuan Innovation Institute of Technology No. 414, Sec. 3, Jhongshan E. Rd., Jhongli, Taiwan, R.O.C. Corresponding Author. Email: jrlin@tiit.edu.tw
2 Department of Institute of Mechatronic Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taiwan, R.O.C.
3 Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing 2013, 9(4), 419-434. https://doi.org/10.3970/fdmp.2013.009.419

Abstract

On the basis of the Shliomis ferrofluid model (1972) together with the micro-continuum theory of Stokes (1966), the influences of non-Newtonian ferrofluids on the steady-state performance of long journal bearings have been investigated in the present paper. Analytical solutions for bearing performances are obtained from the non-Newtonian ferrofluid Reynolds-type equation. Comparing with the Newtonian non-ferrofluid case, the effects of non-Newtonian ferrofluids with applied magnetic fields provide an increase in the zero pressure-gradient angle and the load capacity, and a decrease in the friction parameter, especially for a larger non-Newtonian couple stress parameter and magnetic Langevin’s parameter. For the long journal bearing lubricated with non-Newtonian ferrofluids and operating at larger couple stress parameter and magnetic Langevin’s parameter (for example, N=0.3, ξ =50), slight variation is observed for the friction parameter, but higher bearing loads are obtained with increasing values of the volume concentration parameter.

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Keywords

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