Gears Theory

LUBRICATION AND BEARINGS
Lubrication is the process, or technique employed to reduce wear

of one or both surfaces in close proximity, and moving relative to each
other, by interposing a substance called lubricant between the surfaces
to carry or to help carry the load (pressure generated) between the
opposing surfaces.
Friction
Is the force resisting the relative motion of solid surfaces ,fluid layers and
material elements sliding against each other .
• Why lubrication is needed ???
Friction / Wear
Heat generation
Increases life of machinery
Reduces energy consumption
Material protection
Sealing
Types of lubrication
1. Hydrodynamic or Thick Film Lubrication
2. Hydrostatic lubrication
3. Elastohydrodynamic lubrication
4. Boundary or thin film lubrication
5. Mixed lubrication
6. Extreme pressure lubrication

LUBRICATION AND BEARINGS
Lubricant
A lubricant is an organic substance introduced to
reduce friction between surfaces in mutual contact, which ultimately reduces
the heat generated when the surfaces move.
It may also have the function of transmitting forces, transporting
foreign particles, or heating or cooling the surfaces. The property of reducing
friction is known as lubricity.
Types of Lubricants
1. Fluid lubricants (Oils) - Paraffinic oils, Aromatic oils, Naphtenic oils
2. Semi-fluid lubricants (greases)
3. Solid lubricants - molybdenum disulfide , Graphite, Boron nitride,
tungsten disulfide and polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE).
4. Synthetic
Good lubricating oil generally possesses the following characteristics:
• Suitable Viscosity: The viscosity of oil should not change with rise in temperature.
• Oilness: It ensures the adherence to the bearings and spread over the surface. This property
makes oil smooth and very important in boundary lubrication.
• Strength: The lubricant must have high strength to avoid metal contact and seizure under heavy
loads.
• Chemical Stability: The lubricant should not react with surfaces and any deposit in the cylinder.
• Pour Point: It should be low to allow the flow of lubricant at low temperature to the oil pump.
• Flash Point and Fire Point: The lubricating oil should not burn inside the cylinder, otherwise it
will leave heavy deposit and poisonous exhaust. Therefore, the flash point and fire point of the
lubricating oil must be high.
• Neutralization: The oil should not have a tendency to form deposits by reacting with air, water,
fuel or the products of combustion.
• Cleaning: The oil should act as cleaning agent inside the engine and should carry any deposits
with it. It should also have non-foaming characteristics, low cost and be non-toxic.
• A high boiling point and low freezing point (in order to stay liquid within a wide
range of temperature)
• A high viscosity index.
• Thermal stability.
• Hydraulic stability.
• Demulsibility.
• Corrosion prevention.
• A high resistance to oxidation.
Bearings
A bearing is a machine element that constrains relative motion to only the desired
motion, and reduces friction between moving parts. The design of the bearing may, for
example, provide for free linear movement of the moving part or for free rotation around a
fixed axis.
Hydrodynamic or (Thick Film Lubrication)
It exist when the moving surfaces are separated by the pressure of a continuous
unbroken film or layer of lubrication.
• In this type , the load is taken completely by the oil film.
• It depends on the relative speed between the surfaces, oil viscosity, load, and
clearance between the moving or sliding surfaces.
Figure. Hydrodynamic bearing and pressure distribution
If the speed of rotation is less than a critical value, depending on the load,
lubrication and surface finish, complete separation of the surfaces by a film is not
possible and some of the load is taken by the contact of asperities on the surfaces. This
condition is called "boundary lubrication".
Application of hydrodynamic lubrication :
• Delicate instruments.
• Light machines like watches, clocks, guns, sewing machines.
• Scientific instruments .
• Large plain bearings like pedestal bearings, main bearing of
diesel engine .
Hydrostatic lubrication
• It is essentially a form of hydrodynamic lubrication .
• But the film instead of being self-generated, the separating pressure is
supplied by an external oil pump .
• Hydrostatic lubrication depends on the inlet pressure of oil and
clearance between the surfaces .
Figure. Hydrostatic bearing
Sl. Hydrodynamic Journal Hydrostatic Journal
No.
1 Fluid pressure is created by the relative External pressurized supply of fluid is
provided
motion between the moving parts.
2 Initial cost is less. Initial cost is high
3 The speed is high. Speed is low
4 Load carrying capacity is less. Load carrying capacity is high.
5 Design of Bearing house is less complicated. Design of Bearing house is complicated.
6 It cannot be used as air bearings. It can be used as air bearing

BEARING CHARACTERISTIC NUMBER AND BEARING
MODULUS FOR JOURNAL BEARING
The coefficient of friction in design of bearings is of great
importance. Various investigators, have shown that in journal,
coefficient of friction is, a function of at least three dimensionless
,
parameters
The parameter is called bearing characteristic number

and is a dimensionless number.
11 April 2020 21
The variation of coefficient of friction with the operating values
of bearing characteristic number is shown in Fig .
The part of the curve PQ represents thick film lubrication. Between Q and R, the
viscosity (Ƞ) or speed (n') are low or the pressure (P) is high that their combination
will reduce the film thickness, so that partial metal to metal contact will take place.
Therefore thin film or boundary or imperfect lubrication exists between R and S.
TERMS USED IN HYDRODYNAMIC
JOURNAL BEARING
Diametral Clearance : It is the difference between the

diameter of journal or shaft and the inside diameter of the bearing in which it
rotates.
Radial Clearance : Radial clearance is one half the diametral clearance, i.e., it is the
difference between the radii of the bearing and the journal
Diametral Clearance Ratio : It is the ratio of the diametral clearance to the diameter
of the journal.
Attitude or eccentricity ratio : It is the ratio of the eccentricity to the radial clearance.
Short and long bearing: If the ratio of the length to the diameter of the journal is less
than 1, then the bearing is said to be short bearing. If the ratio of the length to the
diameter of the journal is greater than 1 , then the bearing is said to be long bearing.
Square Bearing : When the length of the journal is equal to the diameter of the

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LUBRICATION AND BEARINGS

Lubrication is the process, or technique employed to reduce wear

Increases life of machinery

Reduces energy consumption

1. Hydrodynamic or Thick Film Lubrication

4. Boundary or thin film lubrication

6. Extreme pressure lubrication

2 Initial cost is less. Initial cost is high

3 The speed is high. Speed is low

4 Load carrying capacity is less. Load carrying capacity is high.

5 Design of Bearing house is less complicated. Design of Bearing house is complicated.

6 It cannot be used as air bearings. It can be used as air bearing

The parameter is called bearing characteristic number

Diametral Clearance : It is the difference between the

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