An experimental study on the tribological performance of water-lubricated journal bearings with three different materials. Issue 10 (1st May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Han, Yanfeng; Yin, Lei; Xiang, Guo; Zhou, Guangwu; Chen, Haizhou; Zheng, Xiaolin
• Is Part Of: Industrial lubrication and tribology. Volume 72:Issue 10(2020)
• Page Start: 1159
• Page End: 1165
• Publication Date: 2020-05-01
• Subjects: Water-lubricated bearing -- Tribological behavior -- Mixed lubrication -- Journal bearings; Lubrication and lubricants -- Periodicals; Tribology -- Periodicals; 621.89
• DOI: 10.1108/ILT-10-2019-0447
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0036-8792

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The tribological behavior, i.e. friction coefficient and wear rate, and vibration characteristics of the water-lubricated bearing was investigated. The water-lubricated bearing is made of three different materials, i.e. polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK), polyimide (PI) and nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR). Design/methodology/approach: The tribological behavior was investigated experimentally on a specially designed test rig. Three vibration sensors were used to record the vibration of the bearing. Findings: The results indicated that the variation of friction coefficient with rotation speed agrees well with the trend of Stribeck curve. The tested friction coefficient of rubber bearing is higher than that of the other two bearings whether it is in the state of mixed-lubrication or hydrodynamic lubrication, and which causing a larger wear rate in rubber bearing. The PEEK bearing exhibits the best tribological properties due to it has smaller friction coefficient and wear rate. However, it can be found that the rubber bearing gives the minimum vibration acceleration, which means that the rubber bearing has the most potential to improve the stability of water-lubricated bearing rotor system. Originality/value: In this study, a group of experiment studies conducted on a specially designed test rig. The comprehensive performance, including friction coefficient, vibration acceleration and wear rate, of water-lubricated bearing with three different materials, i.e. PEEK, PI and NBR, was compared systematically. The experiment research may offer a reference for the selection of material in water-lubricated bearing in specific operating conditions. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-10-2019-0447/