A Legendre collocation method for thermohydrodynamic journal-bearing problems with Elrod's cavitation algorithm

A Legendre collocation method is proposed for journal-bearing problems. The model combines the Legendre collocation method, the bulk-flow model and Elrod's cavitation algorithm. The Legendre collocation method is used to solve the momentum equations and energy equation to determine the velocity and temperature distributions while the pressure is determined by solving the bulk-flow equations using the SIMPLER scheme. This model can analyze a wide range of problems from laminar to turbulent flow with or without thermohydrodynamic (THD) effects, and resolve the detailed flow structure such as the temperature distribution near the wall region in the turbulent THD case.