A STUDY ON THE HYDRODYNAMIC BEARING MATERIALS & PROPERTIES

The continuously growing demands on standard components of machine elements with respect to power density, efficiency and durability while operating can reach the borders of load bearing capacity and lead to premature failure. Especially in engineering applications with insufficiently predictable operating conditions, bearings can usually meet these requirements. Possible correctives are the use of new materials with modified properties or changes in the design. Bearing materials constitute an import part of any journal bearing. Bearings provide either a sliding or a rolling contact whenever relative motion exists between parts of a machine. Sliding contact bearings are referred to as plain bearings and rolling contact bearings are often called antifriction bearings. Journal bearings can be classified into two types: hydrodynamic bearings and hydrostatic bearings. Hydrodynamic bearings attained lift between the mating surfaces by wedging lubricant into the contact area with a relatively high rotational speed. Good bearing design involves three fundamental elements: understanding the service environment, designing for proper lubrication and selecting the best bearing material for the job.