Thermohydrodynamic analysis of high speed water-lubricated spiral groove thrust bearing considering effects of cavitation, inertia and turbulence

A thermohydrodynamic cavitating flow lubrication model including effects of cavitation, inertia and turbulence for high speed water-lubricated spiral groove thrust bearing was established. The static characteristics of the water-lubricated spiral groove thrust bearing at high speed condition were investigated using this model. The numerical calculation results have shown that load carrying capacity and friction torque reduce due to inertia and cavitation in high speed condition, while that load carrying capacity and friction torque increase due to turbulence. The maximum temperature rise increases due to inertia effect, and reduces due to cavitation effect. In addition, the influence of inertia effect on the static characteristics of water-lubricated spiral groove thrust bearing was greater than the cavitation effect under high speed condition.