A Numerical Model for the Analysis of the Bearings of a Diesel Engine Subjected to Conditions of Wear and Misalignment

• Main Authors: Carlos Pardo García, Jhan Piero Rojas, Sofia Orjuela Abril
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-04-01
• Series: Lubricants
• Subjects: engine bearings; deflection angle; misalignment; surface roughness
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/9/4/42

In the present work, a numerical model is developed to investigate the influence of wear and misalignment on the bearings of a stationary diesel engine. The model implemented considers the effects of surface wear on the bearing, cavitation effects, and surface roughness. For the numerical analysis, changes in the surface roughness of , , and are defined, and changes in the bearing load of 50%, 75%, and 100%. The results demonstrated that increasing the surface roughness intensifies the bearing wear, which represents 18% and 140% of the bearing clearance for the roughness of and , respectively. Additionally, the surface roughness causes a considerable increase in the bearing wear rate. The results described a maximum wear rate of . In general, increasing the bearing load by 25% doubles the hydrodynamic pressure conditions increases friction force by 33%, and reduces lubrication film thickness by 12%. The analysis of the angle of deflection, and , shows that the moment and the degree of misalignment tend to increase significantly with the increase in the magnitude of the angle . Negative angles of deflection, , produce a greater increase in the degree of misalignment and the moment. This implies a greater chance of contact with the bearing surface. In conclusion, the proposed methodology serves as a reliable tool to simultaneously evaluate key parameters on the tribological behavior of bearings that further extend their endurance and minimize wear damage.