Mass-conserving cavitation model for dynamical lubrication problems. Part I: Mathematical analysis

In this paper we prove an existence result for a variety of rotor-bearing systems, namely journal bearing, piston ring–liner and mechanical seal systems. These results are shown for a fixed geometry for different boundary conditions. The mathematical model considered is the mass-conserving Elrod–Adams in presence of cavitation and in the unsteady case. Also a local existence of a dynamical problem is given.