Integral transform solutions for the analysis of hydrodynamic lubrication of journal bearings

Abstract This work deals with analysis of hydrodynamic lubrication of radial journal bearings. The Reynolds equation was treated in order to obtain a hybrid numerical–analytical solution through the Generalized Integral Transform Technique (GITT) for the problem. A parametric analysis is done to investigate the influence of typical governing parameters for such a physical situation. Numerical results for engineering parameters such as pressure field, friction coefficient, axial flow rate and dimensionless load capacity were thus produced as functions of such parameters. Comparisons with results presented in the literature were also performed in order to verify the present results, as well as to demonstrate the consistency of the final results and the capacity of the GITT approach in handling journal bearing problems.