JCSD MECHANICAL ENGINEERING REVIEWER MACHINE DESIGN: SLIDING CONTACT BEARING

LESSON IV

SLIDING CONTACT BEARINGS

DEFINITIONS AND USEFUL INFORMATION

 Bearing – is a machine member that supports another part that rotates, slides, or oscillates in or on it.
 Sliding contact bearing – is a bearing that permits constrained relative motion of rigid parts; lubricant is generally
inserted or supplied between the mating surfaces to reduce friction and wear, and to carry away the heat generated.
 Rolling-element bearing – a bearing where surfaces are non-conformed and motion is primarily rolling; it composed of
rolling elements interposed between an outer and inner rings.
 Non-conformal surfaces – are surfaces that do not conform to each other very well as in the rolling-element bearings.
 Tribology – is the study of lubrication, friction, and wear of moving or stationary parts.
 Lubrication – is the process of separating relatively moving parts or elements for the purpose of reducing the friction,
wear, and heating of parts.
 Lubricant – is any substance, when inserted between moving surfaces, reduces friction, wear, and heating of the surfaces;
and provides smooth running and satisfactory life for machine elements.
 Viscosity – is the measure of the resistance to flow of the fluid or the property that resists shearing of the fluid or
lubricant.
 Absolute viscosity or dynamic viscosity – is the ratio of the fluid layer shearing stress to that of its shear strain rate.
 Kinematic Viscosity – is the ratio of absolute viscosity and the density of the fluid or lubricant.
 Shear strain rate of a particular fluid layer is the ratio of velocity to that of its perpendicular distance from the stationary
surfaces.
 Babbit – is a tin or lead base alloy that is used as bearing material.

TYPES OF BEARING ELEMANTS

1. Sliding-element bearings
2. Rolling-element bearings
a) Ball bearing element – rolling element bearing that uses spherical balls as rolling elements
b) Roller bearing element – rolling element bearing that uses cylindrical rollers as rolling elements.

PLAIN BEARINGS OR SLIDING-ELEMENT BEARINGS

 Plain bearings are bearings that provide sliding contact between mating surfaces.

Relative Motions Between the Parts of Plain Bearings

1) Pure sliding without the benefit of a liquid or gaseous lubricating medium between the moving surfaces such as with
the dry operation of nylon or Teflon
2) With hydrodynamic lubrication in which a wedge or film buildup of lubricating medium is produced, with either
whole or partial separation of the bearing surfaces
3) With hydrostatic lubrication in which a lubricating medium is introduced under pressure between the mating
surfaces causing a force opposite to the applied load and a lifting or separation of these surfaces.
4) With a hybrid form or combination of hydrodynamic and hydrostatic lubrication.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Sliding Contact (plain) Bearings as Compared with Rolling Contact (antifriction)
Bearings

Advantages:
1) Require less space 2) Quieter in operation
3) Lower in cost, particularly in high-volume production 4) Have greater rigidity
5) Their life is generally not limited by fatigue

Disadvantages:
1) Have higher frictional properties resulting in higher power consumption
2) More susceptible to damage from foreign material in lubrication system
3) Have more stringent lubrication requirements; and 4) are more susceptible to damage from interrupted lubrication
supply.

CLASSIFICATIONS OF SLIDING BEARINGS

1. Radial bearing or Journal bearing – a bearing that supports radial loads and furnishes lateral support to rotating shaft.
2. Guide bearing – a bearing that primarily guides the motion of a machine member without specific regard to the
direction of load application.
3. Thrust bearing – a bearing that carries a load collinear to the axis or a bearing designed to support axial load of the
rotating element.
4. Slipper or slider bearing – a bearing in which two surfaces are flat and nearly parallel and the relative motion is
translation.

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JCSD MECHANICAL ENGINEERING REVIEWER MACHINE DESIGN: SLIDING CONTACT BEARING

GROUPS OF VARIABLES CONSIDERED IN THE DESIGN OF SLIDING BEARINGS

 Group I – are those whose values either are given or are under the control of the designer:
1) The viscosity of the lubricant 2) The load per unit of projected bearing area
3) The speed of rotating element in rpm 4) The bearing dimensions

 Group II – are the dependent variables; the designer cannot control these except indirectly by changing one or more of
the first group.
1) The coefficient of friction 2) The temperature rise
3) The flow of oil 4) The minimum film thickness, h0.

JOURNAL BEARINGS
 Journal bearing is the one that supports radial loads and furnishes lateral support to rotating shaft.
 Journal bearing is composed of two principal parts: the Journal which is the inside cylindrical part, usually a
rotating or an oscillating member; and the Bearing which is the surrounding shell or the bushing, may be stationary
as on the line shaft bearing or moving as on a crankpin.

Classifications of Journal Bearing Based on the Angle of Contact of the Bushing

1. Full journal bearing – is a bearing with the angle of contact of the bushing or bearing with the journal is 360o.
2. Partial Journal Bearing – a bearing with angle of contact of the bushing or bearing with the journal is 180 o or less,
120o the common value.

Classifications of Journal Bearings Based on the Radii of Journal and Bushing

1. Clearance bearing – a journal bearing where the radius of the journal is less than the radius of the bushing or
bearing.
 Clearance refers to the thickness of the space allowed for the lubricant that separates the parts having relative
motion.
2. Fitted journal bearing – is the one where the radii of the journal and the bushing are equal; it must be a partial
bearing and the journal must run eccentric with the bushing in order to provide space for the lubricant.

Types of Partial Journal Bearing

1. Centrally loaded bearing – is a partial journal bearing where the line of action of the load or bearing reaction is
bisecting the arc of the partial bearing.
2. Eccentrically loaded bearing or Offset bearing – is the one where the line of action of the load is passing to one side
of the center.

Types of Journal Bearings

1. Circumferential-groove bearing
 This has an oil groove extending circumferentially around the bearing. The oil is maintained under pressure in
the groove. The groove divides the bearing into two shorter bearings that tend to run at a slightly greater
eccentricity.
 The advantage in terms of stability for this bearing is slight.
 This bearing is most commonly used in reciprocating-load main and connecting rod bearing because of the
uniformity of oil distribution.

Figure 4.1. Circumferential-groove bearings

2. Cylindrical-overshot bearing
 This bearing is used where surface speeds of 10,000 fpm or more exist, and where additional oil flow is desired
to maintain a reasonable bearing temperature.
 This bearing has a wide circumferential groove extending from one axial oil groove to the other over the upper
half of the bearing. Oil is usually admitted to the trailing edge oil groove. An inlet orifice is used to control the
oil flow. Cooler operation results from the elimination of shearing action over a large section of the upper half of
the bearing and, to a great extent, from the additional flow of cool oil over the top half of the bearing.

Figure 4.2. Cylindrical-Overshot Bearing

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JCSD MECHANICAL ENGINEERING REVIEWER MACHINE DESIGN: SLIDING CONTACT BEARING

3. Pressure bearing
 This bearing employs a groove over the top half of the bearing. The groove terminates at a sharp dam about 45
degrees beyond the vertical in the direction of shaft rotation. Oil is pumped into this groove by shear action from
the rotation of the shaft and is then stopped by the dam.
 This bearing design has primary disadvantage: Dirt in the oil will tend to abrade the sharp edge of the dam and
impair ability to create high pressures.

Figure 4.3. Pressure Bearing

4. Multiple-groove bearing
 This bearing is sometimes used to provide increased oil flow. The interruptions in the oil film also appear to
give this bearing some merit as a stable design.

Figure 4.4. Multiple-groove Bearing

A

Section A-A
A
5. Elliptical Bearing
 This bearing is not truly elliptical but formed from two sections of a cylinder. This two-piece bearing has a large
clearance in the direction of the split and a smaller clearance in the load direction at right angles to the split.
 At light loads, the shaft runs eccentric to both halves of the bearing, and the elliptical bearing has a higher oil
flow than the corresponding cylindrical bearing.
 The elliptical bearing will run cooler and will be more stable than a cylindrical bearing.

Figure 4.5. Elliptical Bearing

6. Elliptical-overshot bearing
 Elliptical-overshot bearing is elliptical bearing in which the upper half is relieved by a wide oil groove
connecting the axial oil grooves. This bearing is analogous to cylindrical-overshot bearing.
7. Displaced Elliptical Bearing
 Displaced elliptical bearing shifts the centers of the two bearing arcs in both a horizontal and a vertical direction.
This bearing design has greater stiffness than a cylindrical bearing, in both horizontal and vertical directions,
with substantially higher oil flow.
 This bearing has not been extensively used, but offers the prospect of high stability and cool operation.

Figure 4.7. Displaced Elliptical Bearing

8. Three-lobe Bearing
 Three-lobe bearing is made up in cross section of three circular arcs.
 This bearing is most effective as anti-oil whip bearing when the centers of curvature of each of the three lobes
lie well outside the clearance circle that the shaft center can describe within the bearing. Three axial oil-feed
grooves are used.

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JCSD MECHANICAL ENGINEERING REVIEWER MACHINE DESIGN: SLIDING CONTACT BEARING

 It is a more difficult design to manufacture, because it is almost necessary to make it in three parts instead of
two.

Figure 4.8. Three-lobe Bearing

9. Pivoted-shoe Bearing
 Pivoted-shoe bearing is one of the most stable bearings. The bearing surface is divided into three or more
segments, each of which is pivoted at the center.
 In operation, each shoe tilts to form a wedge-shaped oil film, thus creating a force tending to push the shaft
toward the center of the bearing.
 For single-direction rotation, the shoes are sometimes pivoted near one end and forced toward the shaft by
springs.

Figure 4.9. Pivoted-shoe Bearing

10. Nutcracker Bearing

 This bearing consists of two cylindrical half-bearings. The upper half-bearing is free to move in a vertical
direction and is forced toward the shaft by a hydraulic cylinder. External oil pressure may be used to create load
on the upper half of the bearing through the hydraulic cylinder.
 The high-pressure oil may be obtained from the lower half of the bearing by tapping a hole into the high-
pressure oil film, and creating a self-loading bearing.

Figure 4.10. Nutcracker Bearing

HYDROSTATIC BEARINGS
 Hydrostatic bearings are used when operating conditions require full film lubrication that cannot be developed
hydro-dynamically.
 The hydrostatically lubricated bearing, either thrust or radial, is supplied with lubricant under pressure from an
external source.
 These bearings are used in many applications including machine tools, rolling mills, and other heavily loaded slow-
moving machinery.

Some Advantages of the Hydrostatic Bearing Over Other Bearings

a) Low friction b) High load capacity
c) High reliability d) High stiffness
e) Long life

Design of Hydrostatic Bearing

o The design of a sliding bearing is generally accomplished in one of two ways:

1) A bearing operating under similar conditions is used as a model or basis from which the new bearing is designed.
2) In the absence of any previous experience with similar bearings in similar environments, certain assumptions
concerning operating conditions and requirements are made and a tentative design prepared based on general design
parameters or rules of thumb.

MODES OF BEARING OPERATION

 The load-carrying ability of a sliding bearing depends upon the kind of fluid film that is formed between its moving
surfaces.
 The formation of this film is dependent, in part, on the design of the bearing and, in part, on the speed of rotation.
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JCSD MECHANICAL ENGINEERING REVIEWER MACHINE DESIGN: SLIDING CONTACT BEARING

Three Modes of Bearing Operation

1. Full-film, or hydrodynamic, Lubrication
 This produces a complete physical separation of the sliding surfaces resulting in low friction and long wear-free
service life.
 The following parameters should be satisfied to promote full-film lubrication in hydrodynamic operation:
a. Lubricant selected has the correct viscosity for the proposed operation;
b. Proper lubricant flow rates are maintained;
c. Proper design methods and considerations have been utilized; and
d. Surface velocity in excess of 25 feet per minute is maintained.
 When full-film lubrication is achieved, a coefficient of friction between 0.001 and 0.005 can be expected.
2. Mixed-film lubrication
 This is a mode of operation between the full-film and boundary modes.
 With this mode, there is a partial separation of the sliding surfaces by the lubricant film.
 As in boundary lubrication, limitations on surface speed and wear will result.
 A surface velocity in excess of 10 feet per minute is required with resulting coefficients of friction of 0.02 to
0.08.
3. Boundary Lubrication
 This mode takes place when the sliding surfaces are rubbing together with only an extremely thin film of
lubricant present.
 This type of operation is acceptable only in applications with oscillating or slow rotary motion.
 In complete boundary lubrication, the oscillatory or rotary motion is usually less than 10 feet per minute with
resulting coefficients of friction of 0.08 to 0.14.
 These bearings are usually grease lubricated or periodically oil lubricated.

METHODS OF RETAINING BEARINGS

 The following methods ensure bearing to remain in place within a housing.

1. Press or Shrink Fit
 One common and satisfactory technique for retaining the bearing is to press or shrink the bearing in the housing
with an interference fit.
 This method permits the use of bearings having uniform wall thickness over the entire bearing length.
2. Keying Methods
 A variety of methods can be used to fix the position of the bearing with respect to its housing by “keying” the
two together.

Keying Methods or Bearing Retention Methods

o The following are methods of bearing retention:
a) Set screws
b) Woodruff keys
c) Bolted bearing flanges
d) Threaded bearings
e) Dowel pins
f) Housing caps.

Factors to be Considered When Selecting one of Bearing Retention Methods

1) Maintaining uniform wall thickness of the bearing material, if possible, especially in the load-carrying region of the
bearing.
2) Providing as much contact area as possible between bearing and housing. Mating surfaces should be clean, smooth,
and free from imperfections to facilitate heat transfer.
3) Preventing any local deformation of the bearing that might result from the keying method. Machining after keying is
recommended.

METHODS OF SEALING A BEARING

 Sealing of bearing is used to prevent leakage of lubricant to other areas of bearings.

 Three terms used to describe the devices used for sealing:
o Seal: A means of preventing migration of fluids, gases, or particles across a joint or opening in a container.
o Packing: A dynamic seal, used where some form of relative motion occurs between rigid members of an assembly.
o Gaskets: A static seal, used where there is no relative motion between joined parts.
 Two major functions must be achieved by all sealing applications: prevent escape of fluid; and prevent migration of
foreign matter from the outside.
 To meet the requirements of static application there must be no relative motion between the joining parts or between the
seal and the mating part. If there is any relative motion, the application must be considered dynamic, and the seal selected
accordingly.
 Dynamic sealing requires control of fluids leaking between parts with relative motion.
 Two primary methods are used to this end: positive contact or rubbing seals; and controlled clearance non-contact seals.

TYPES OF BEARING LUBRICATION

 The following are the common types of bearing lubrication:

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JCSD MECHANICAL ENGINEERING REVIEWER MACHINE DESIGN: SLIDING CONTACT BEARING

1. Hydrodynamic lubrication – is lubrication where the load-carrying surfaces of the bearing are separated by a
relatively thick film of lubricant, so as to prevent metal-to-metal contact; and where the stability of the film can be
explained by the laws of fluid mechanics.
2. Hydrostatic lubrication – is lubrication obtained by introducing the lubricant, which is sometimes air or water, into
the load-bearing area at a pressure high enough to separate the surfaces with a relatively thick film of lubricant. This
lubrication does not require motion of one surface relative to another.
3. Elastohydrodynamic lubrication – is the phenomena that occur when the lubricant is introduced between surfaces
that are in rolling contact, such as mating gears or rolling bearings. It is a lubrication condition where nonconformal
surfaces are completely separated by lubricant film and no asperities are in contact.
4. Boundary lubrication – is a lubrication condition where considerably asperity interaction occurs between solids and
lubrication mechanism is governed by properties of thin surface films that are of molecular proportion.
5. Solid film lubrication – is a lubrication condition that used graphite or molybdenum disulfide when the bearings are
to separate at extreme temperature.

Lubricants: The value of an oil as a lubricant depends mainly on its film-forming capacity, that is, its capability to maintain a
film of oil between the bearing surfaces. The film forming capacity depends to a large extent on the viscosity of the oil, but
this should not be understood to mean that oil of the highest viscosity is always the most suitable lubricant. For practical
reasons, an oil of the lowest viscosity that will retain an unbroken oil film between the bearing surfaces is the most suitable
for purposes of lubrication. A higher viscosity than that necessary to maintain the oil film results in a waste of power due to
the expenditure of energy necessary to overcome the internal friction of the oil itself Machinery’s Handbook 26).

Grease: packed in a cavity surrounding the bushing is less adequate than an oil system, but it has the advantage of being
more or less permanent. Although hydrodynamic lubrication is possible under certain very favorable circumstances,
boundary lubrication is the usual state (Machinery’s Handbook 26).

Lubricant Selection
 In selecting lubricants for journal bearing operation, several factors must be considered:
1. Type of operation (full, mixed, or boundary film) anticipated
2. Surface speed
3. Bearing loading.

ABSOLUTE OR DYNAMIC VISCOSITY OF A FLUID

 The viscosity of a fluid is obtained from the analysis of Newton’s viscous flow and the postulate of Newton states
that ‘to maintain the velocity of a particular layer of the fluid, the shearing force is proportional to the shearing area
and the shear strain rate”. To illustrate, consider figure 4.1 below.

Figure 4.12. Viscosity principle F V Shearing Layer

h Shearing Area

Stationary Surface

 Based from Newton postulate, to make velocity of the streamline constant the shearing force is directly proportional
to the product of the shearing area and the shear strain rate.

V V
FA or F A Eq. 4.1
h h

Where,  = a proportionality constant, known as absolute or dynamic viscosity

Then, absolute viscosity is

F A Shear Stress
  Eq. 4.2
V h Shear Strain Rate
Therefore,
 Absolute viscosity is the ratio of the shear stress to that of the shear strain rate
 Shear strain rate of a particular fluid layer is the ratio of its velocity to that of its perpendicular distance from the
stationary surface.

Units of Absolute Viscosity

1. SI units: N-s/m2 or Pa-s  (1 N-s/m2 = 1 Pa-s)
2. cgs units: Dyne-s/cm2 or Poise  (1 Dyne-s/cm2 = 1 Poise)
3. English units: lbf-s/in2 or Reyn  (1 lbf-s/in2 = 1 Reyn)
 Reyn is a unit of viscosity in honor of Osborne Reynolds

KINEMATIC VISCOSITY
 Kinematic Viscosity is the ratio of the absolute viscosity to that of the density of the fluid.

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JCSD MECHANICAL ENGINEERING REVIEWER MACHINE DESIGN: SLIDING CONTACT BEARING

Absolute Vis cos ity 

  Eq. 4.3
Density 

Units of Kinematic Viscosity

1. SI units: m2/s
2. cgs units: cm2/s or Stoke  1 Stoke = 1 cm2/s
3. English units: in2/s

Practice Problem: Convert an absolute viscosity of a) 0.05 N-s/m 2 into reyn, centipoise, and poise; and b) 1 Reyn into
centipoise.

PLAIN BEARING MATERIALS

 The materials used for sliding bearings cover a wide range of metals and nonmetals, and must possess certain physical
and chemical properties that permit to operate properly. The important general categories for the bearing materials are:
Babbitt, alkali-hardened lead, cadmium alloys, copper lead, aluminum bronze, silver, sintered metals, plastics, wood,
rubber, and carbon graphite.

Properties of Bearing Materials

1. Fatigue resistance
o It is the ability of the bearing lining material to withstand repeated applications of stress and strain without cracking,
flaking, or being destroyed by some other means.

2. Embeddability
o It is the ability of the bearing lining material to absorb or embed within itself any of the larger of the small dirt
particles present in a lubrication system.
 Poor embeddability permits particles circulating around the bearing to score both the bearing surface and the
journal or shaft.
 Good embeddability will permit these particles to be trapped and forced into the bearing surface and out of the
way where they can do no harm.

3. Compatibility or anti-scoring tendencies permit the shaft and bearing to “get along” with each other.
o It is the ability of bearing material to resist galling or seizing under conditions of metal-to-metal contact such as at
startup. This characteristic is most truly a bearing property, because contact between the bearing and shaft in good
designs occurs only at startup.

4. Conformability
o It is defined as malleability or as the ability of the bearing material to creep or flow slightly under load, as in the
initial stages of running, to permit the shaft and bearing contours to conform with each other or to compensate for
non-uniform loading caused by misalignment.

5. High thermal conductivity

o This bearing material property is required to absorb and carry away the heat generated in the bearing.
o It is most important, not in removing frictional heat generated in the oil film, but in preventing seizures due to hot
spots caused by local asperity breakthroughs or foreign particles.

6. Corrosion resistance
o This bearing material property is required to resist attack by organic acids that are sometimes formed in oils at
operating conditions.

7. Load capacity or strength

o It is the ability of the material to withstand the hydrodynamic pressures exerted upon it during operation.

ANALYSIS OF CONCENTRIC JOURNAL BEARING

 As shown in figure 4.2 below, the journal will run concentrically when one of the following conditions prevails:
1. The radial load acting on the bearing is negligible (approximately zero) or the journal is lightly loaded
2. The viscosity of the lubricant is infinite
3. The speed of the journal is infinite

Figure 4.13. Concentric Journal Bearing

Journal or
Shaft

Lubricant
Bushing or
Bearing
L
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JCSD MECHANICAL ENGINEERING REVIEWER MACHINE DESIGN: SLIDING CONTACT BEARING

Considerations in the Hydrodynamic Analysis

 The oil film in a journal bearing is always thin relative to the bearing radius
 The curvature of the bearing surface is ignored
 The film is considered an unwrapped body having a thickness equal to the radial clearance, h.
 The length of the unwrapped body is equal to the journal circumference, 2r, and the bearing length or width, L.
 The viscosity throughout the oil film is assumed constant.

Figure 4.14. Hydrodynamic Analysis for Concentric Bearing

Journal
F

Lubricant h
Bearing
F
h

2r

 From Newton’s Postulate for Viscous Flow

V V
FA or F A Eq. 4.4
h h

Where, F = friction force A = surface area of a journal in contact with the lubricant
A=2rL=dL L = bearing length
V = journal surface speed V = 2  r Ns
Ns = rotational speed of the journal, rps  = absolute viscosity of the lubricant
h = radial clearance for concentric journal bearing

 2 Nsr   4 2 r 2 LNs  4 2 r 2  LNs

Therefore, F    2 r L       Eq. 4.5
 h   h  h

 Frictional Torque of the Bearing (Petroff’s Equation)

4 2 r3  L Ns 2  r3 L 
Tf  F  r   Eq. 4.6
h h

o Friction torque equation is known as Petroff’s Equation after N. Petrov who formulated the said equation in
1883.

 Coefficient of Friction for Concentric Journal Bearing

F 4 2 r 2  L Ns
f   Eq. 4.7
W hW

Where, W = normal applied load h = Cr = Cd/2

Cr = radial clearance Cd = diametral clearance

 Frictional Work

U f  F Vm Eq. 4.8

 Frictional Horsepower

Tn F Vm
fHp   Eq. 4.9
63 000 33 000

Where, n = rotational speed of the journal, rpm Vm = journal surface speed in fpm
Uf = frictional work, ft-lb/min.

W
 Bearing Pressure or Unit Loading, p  Eq.4.10
LD

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JCSD MECHANICAL ENGINEERING REVIEWER MACHINE DESIGN: SLIDING CONTACT BEARING

Where, L = bearing length, inches D = journal or shaft diameter, inches

 Ns
 Bearing Modulus, BearingModulus  Eq. 4.11
p
Where,  = viscosity, Reyn Ns = journal rps
p = bearing pressure, psi

OPERATING AND PERFORMANCE VARIABLES

OF JOURNAL BEARING

1. Operating Parameters
a) Bearing number, also called Sommerfeld Number b) Diameter to width or length ratio, D/L
c) Angular extent of journal (full or partial bearing)

2. Performance Parameters
a) Eccentricity, e b) Location of minimum film thickness, sometimes called attitude angle
c) Coefficient of sliding friction d) Total and side-leakage volumetric flow rates of lubricant, q and qs.
e) Angle of maximum pressure f) Location of terminating pressure
g) Temperature rise due to lubricant shearing

CLEARANCE OR ECCENTRIC BEARING PARAMETERS

 Diametral Clearance, Cd, - the difference of bearing diameter and the journal diameter.
C
 Radial Clearance, C r  d - the difference of bearing radius and the journal radius.
2
 Minimum Oil Film Thickness, ho, - the minimum distance between the bearing and journal surfaces separated by the film
of the lubricant.
C
 Eccentricity, e  d  h o , - the distance between the centers of the bearing and the journal
2

Figure 4.15. Eccentric Bearing

W
W

e
L
ho

 Frictional Torque (Petroff’s Equation)

 A Vips   DL Vips 4  2 r 3 Ns
Tf  F  r   r Eq. 4.12
h Cd Cr
2
 Frictional Work

Uf  Ff Vm Eq. 4.13

 Frictional Horsepower, fHp

Ff Vm Tf n
fHp   Eq. 4.14
33 000 63 000

 Sommerfeld Number or Bearing Characteristic Number

2 2
 Ns  r   Ns  D 
S      Eq. 4.15
p  Cr  p  Cd 

 Minimum Film Thickness Variable

ho
   S  Function of Sommerfeld Number
Cr

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JCSD MECHANICAL ENGINEERING REVIEWER MACHINE DESIGN: SLIDING CONTACT BEARING

 Coefficient of Friction Variable

D   r 
f   f      S  Function of Sommerfeld Number
C
 d  Cr 

 Volume Flow Rate Variable of Oil Through the Bearing

q
   S  Function of Sommerfeld Number
r Cr Ns L

 Volume Flow Rate of Oil Leakage Variable

qs
   S  Function of Sommerfeld Number
q

 Change of Oil Temperature Variable

 c  t o 
   S  Function of Sommerfeld Number
p

 Maximum Bearing Pressure Variable

p
   S  Function of Sommerfeld Number
pmax

 Note that the Sommerfeld number, S, and all the variables as function of S are obtained from Table AT 20 to 23,
p598-600, Design of Machine Elements by Faires.

 Bearing Pressure or Unit Loading

W W
p  Eq. 4.16
LD 2r L

Where, Tf = frictional torque, in-lb Ff = frictional force, lb

Cd = diametral clearance, in. Cr = radial clearance, in.
ho = minimum film thickness, in. e = eccentricity, in.
 = dynamic viscosity, Reyn r = radius of journal, in.
D = diameter of journal, in. fHp = friction Horsepower
Vips = journal surface speed, in/s Vm = journal speed, fpm
Uf = frictional work, ft-lb/min S = Sommerfeld Number, dimensionless
f = coefficient of friction p = bearing pressure or unit loading, psi
W = bearing normal load, lb L = bearing length, in.

Ex. # 4.1] A 3” x 3” full bearing supports a load of 900 lb., C d / D = 0.0015, n = 400 rpm. The temperature of the SAE 40W
oil is maintained at 140 oF ( = 7.2 x 10-6 Reyn). Considering the bearing lightly loaded, compute the a) frictional torque; b)
frictional Hp; and c) coefficient of friction.
W = 900 lb
Given: A lightly loaded journal bearing

Required:
a) Frictional torque 3”
b) Frictional Hp
c) Coefficient of friction F
h

3”
Solution:
a) Solving for the frictional torque, considering SAE 40W

r = 1.5 inches L = 3 inches Ns = 400 / 60 rps

Tf   
6
 
4  2 r 3 LNs 4  2 r 2 LNs 4 7.2 x 10     1.5   3   400 
2 2

Cr h  0.0015   60 
Tf = 8.527 in-lb ans.

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JCSD MECHANICAL ENGINEERING REVIEWER MACHINE DESIGN: SLIDING CONTACT BEARING

b) Solving for the frictional Hp

Tf n 8.527  400 
fHp    0.054 Hp ans.
63000 63 000

c) Solving for the coefficient of friction

Ff T 8.527
f  f   0.006 ans.
W r W 1.5  900 

Ex. # 4.2] A shaft revolving at 1740 rpm is supported by a bearing with a length of 105 mm and a diameter of 64 mm. If the
load is light and SAE oil # 20 ( = 2.4 x 10-6 Reyn) is used with an average temperature of 65 oC and diametral clearance of
0.138 mm, what would be the loss of power due toi friction. Express the answer in kW.

Solution:
r = 32 mm = 1.26 inches L = 105 mm = 4.134 inches
N = 1740 / 60 = 29 rps C = 0.138 / 2 = 0.069 mm = 0.0027 inch

Solving for the frictional torque,

Tf 
4  2 r 3 L Ns

 
4 2.4 x 10 6 2  1.26 
3
 4.134   29 
 8.356 in  lb
Cr 0.0027

Tf n 8.356  1740 
Solving for the Frictional Power, fHp    0.2308 Hp  0.172 kW ans.
63 000 63 000

Ex. # 4.3] The main bearings of a one-cylinder steam engine are 152 mm diameter and 280 mm long and support a load of 4
000 kg. The bearings are well ventilated and are heavy in construction. The coefficient of friction in bearings is 0.017 and
crankshaft rotates at 450 rpm. Bearing diametral clearance is 0.152 mm. Determine a) the unit loading; and b) the friction
loss per bearing.
W = 40000/2 = 2000 kg
Solution:
a) Solving for the Unit Loading

W 2000  2.205  152 mm

p   66.85 psi  460.79 kPa
LD  280  152 
 25.4  25.4 
  

b) Solving for the Frictional Power

280 mm

 2  n   f Ff D   2  n 
fP  Tf   Tf    
 60   2   60 

 0.017  2000   9.8066   0.152    2     450  

fP      1194.13 W  1.2 kW
 2  60 

PRACTICE PROBLEMS (Module 1V)

Direction: Solve the following problems and select the correct answer of each question.

1. The shaft revolving at 1740 rpm is supported by a journal bearing with a length of 105 mm, and a bushing diameter of 64
mm. The load is light and SAE 30W is used with an average temperature of 150 oF and the diametral clearance of 0.136
mm.
A. What is the journal diameter?
a) 63.864 mm b) 64.863 mm c) 66.834 mm d) 68.463 mm

B. Determine the viscosity of the given lubricant.

a) 3.4 x 10-5 Reyn b) 3.4 x 10-4 Reync) 3.4 x 10-6 Reyn d) 3.4 x 10-7 Reyn

C. What is the frictional torque?

a) 11.84 in-lb b) 14.81 in-lb c) 18.41 in-lb d) 11.48 in-lb

D. Determine the frictional horsepower.

a) 0.327 Hp b) 0.273 Hp c) 0.732 Hp d) 0.723 Hp

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JCSD MECHANICAL ENGINEERING REVIEWER MACHINE DESIGN: SLIDING CONTACT BEARING

E. What is the frictional power, in kW?

a) 0.422 b) 0.244 c) 0.424 d) 0.344
Cd
2. A 3” x 4” full bearing supports a load of 900 lb,  0.0015 , n = 400 rpm. The temperature of the SAE 40 oil is
D
maintained at 140 oF. Considering the bearing is lightly loaded.
A. Find the viscosity of the SAE 40 oil at 150 oF.
a) 7.2 x 10-6 Reyn b) 7.2 x 10-5 Reync) 7.2 x 10-7 Reyn d) 7.2 x 10-4 Reyn

B. What is the frictional torque?

a) 13.17 in-lb b) 11.37 in-lb c) 17.13 in-lb d) 13.71 in-lb

C. Determine the frictional horsepower?

a) 0.072 Hp b) 0.702 Hp c) 0.027 Hp c) 0.207 Hp

D. What is the frictional energy, in ft-lb/min?

a) 2383.34 b) 3283.34 c) 2833.34 d) 3284.33

E. Determine the coefficient of friction.

a) 0.0084 b) 0.0804 c) 0.0048 d) 0.0408

3. It is a machine member that supports another part that rotates, slides, or oscillates in or on it.
a) Pulley b) Key c) Bearing d) Shaft

4. It is a bearing that permits constrained relative motion of rigid parts; lubricant is generally inserted or supplied between
the mating surfaces to reduce friction and wear, and to carry away the heat generated.
a) Sliding Contact Bearing b) Rolling Contact Bearing c) Thrust Bearing d) Journal Bearing

5. These are surfaces that do not conform to each other very well as in the rolling-element bearings.
a) Conformal surfaces b) Non-conformal surfaces c) Sliding surfaces d) Rolling surfaces

6. The study of lubrication, friction, and wear of moving or stationary parts is known as:
a) Lubrication b) Tribology c) Hydrodynamics d) Hydrostatics

7. A bearing where surfaces are non-conformed and motion is primarily rolling; it composed of rolling elements interposed
between an outer ring and inner ring.
a) Sliding-element bearing b) Rolling-element bearing
c) Conformal surfaces bearing d) Non-conformal surfaces bearing

8. It is the process of separating relatively moving parts or elements for the purpose of reducing the friction, wear, and
heating of parts.
a) Lubrication b) Tribology c) Bearing d) Sliding

9. It is considered as any substance, when inserted between moving surfaces, reduces friction, wear, and heating of the
surfaces; and provides smooth running and satisfactory life for machine elements.
a) Oil b) Grease c) Lubricant d) Babbit

10. The measure of the resistance to flow of the fluid or the property that resists shearing of the fluid or lubricant is known
as:
a) Lubricant b) Viscosity c) Kinematic Viscosity d) Shear strain

11. It is the ratio of the fluid layer shearing stress to that of its shear strain rate.
a) Kinematic viscosity b) Dynamic viscosity c) Lubrication d) Fluid shear stress

12. It is the ratio of absolute viscosity and the density of the fluid or lubricant.
a) Absolute viscosity b) Dynamic viscosity c) Viscosity d) Kinematic viscosity

13. This is the ratio of velocity of a particular fluid layer to that of its perpendicular distance from the stationary surfaces.
a) Fluid shear stress b) Fluid shear strain rate c) Absolute viscosity d) Dynamic viscosity

14. It is a tin or lead base alloy that is used as bearing material.

a) Babbit b) Alkali-hardened lead c) Cadmium alloys d) Sintered metal

15. A bearing that supports radial loads and furnishes lateral support to rotating shaft.
a) Radial bearing or Journal bearing b) Guide bearing c) Thrust bearing d) Slipper or slider bearing

16. A bearing that primarily guides the motion of a machine member without specific regard to the direction of load
application.
a) Radial bearing or Journal bearing b) Guide bearing c) Thrust bearing d) Slipper or slider bearing

17. A bearing that carries a load collinear to the axis or a bearing designed to support axial load of the rotating element.
a) Radial bearing or Journal bearing b) Guide bearing

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JCSD MECHANICAL ENGINEERING REVIEWER MACHINE DESIGN: SLIDING CONTACT BEARING

c) Thrust bearing d) Slipper or slider bearing

18. A bearing in which two surfaces are flat and nearly parallel and the relative motion is translation.
a) Radial bearing or Journal bearing b) Guide bearing
c) Thrust bearing d) Slipper or slider bearing

19. A bearing that supports radial loads and furnishes lateral support to rotating shaft.
a) Journal bearing b) Roller bearing c) Ball bearing d) Thrust bearing

20. The inside cylindrical part of a journal bearing, usually a rotating or an oscillating member.
a) Bearing b) Journal c) Key d) Bushing

21. The surrounding shell or the bushing, may be stationary as on the line shaft bearing or moving as on a crankpin.
a) Bearing b) Journal c) Key d) Shaft

22. It is defined as malleability or as the ability of the bearing material to creep or flow slightly under load, as in the initial
stages of running, to permit the shaft and bearing contours to conform with each other or to compensate for non-uniform
loading caused by misalignment.
a) Conformability b) Embeddability c) Compatibility d) High thermal conductivity

23. A bearing material property that is required to resist attack by organic acids that are sometimes formed in oils at
operating conditions.
a) Conformability b) Corrosion Resistance c) Compatibility d) High thermal conductivity

24. It is a bearing with the angle of contact of the bushing or bearing with the journal is 360o.
a) Partial Journal Bearing b) Full Journal Bearing c) Clearance Bearing d) Fitted journal Bearing

25. A bearing with angle of contact of the bushing or bearing with the journal is 180 o or less, 120o the common value is said
to be:
a) Partial Journal Bearing b) Full Journal Bearing c) Clearance Bearing d) Fitted journal Bearing

26. It is a journal bearing where the radius of the journal is less than the radius of the bushing or bearing.
a) Partial Journal Bearing b) Full Journal Bearing c) Clearance Bearing d) Fitted journal Bearing

27. It refers to the thickness of the space allowed for the lubricant that separates the bearing parts having relative motion.
a) Clearance b) Lubricant film thickness c) Radial clearance d) Diametral clearance

28. A journal bearing where the radii of the journal and the bushing are equal; it must be a partial bearing and the journal
must run eccentric with the bushing in order to provide space for the lubricant.
a) Partial Journal Bearing b) Full Journal Bearing c) Clearance Bearing d) Fitted journal Bearing

29. It is a type of lubrication where the load-carrying surfaces of the bearing are separated by a relatively thick film of
lubricant, so as to prevent metal-to-metal contact; and where the stability of the film can be explained by the laws of fluid
mechanics.
a) Hydrodynamic Lubrication b) Hydrostatic Lubrication
c) Boundary Lubrication d) Solid Film Lubrication

30. It is lubrication obtained by introducing the lubricant, which is sometimes air or water, into the load-bearing area at a
pressure high enough to separate the surfaces with a relatively thick film of lubricant. This lubrication does not require
motion of one surface relative to another.
a) Hydrodynamic Lubrication b) Hydrostatic Lubrication
c) Boundary Lubrication d) Solid Film Lubrication

31. The phenomena that occur when the lubricant is introduced between surfaces that are in rolling contact, such as mating
gears or rolling bearings. It is a lubrication condition where non-conformal surfaces are completely separated by
lubricant film and no asperities are in contact.
a) Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication b) Hydrostatic Lubrication
c) Boundary Lubrication d) Solid Film Lubrication

32. It is a lubrication condition where considerably asperity interaction occurs between solids and lubrication mechanism is
governed by properties of thin surface films that are of molecular proportion.
a) Hydrodynamic Lubrication b) Hydrostatic Lubrication
c) Boundary Lubrication d) Solid Film Lubrication

33. It is a lubrication condition that used graphite or molybdenum disulfide when the bearings are to separate at extreme
temperature.
a) Hydrodynamic Lubrication b) Hydrostatic Lubrication
c) Boundary Lubrication d) Solid Film Lubrication

34. Which of the following equations is the Petroff’s Equation for frictional torque of a journal bearing?

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JCSD MECHANICAL ENGINEERING REVIEWER MACHINE DESIGN: SLIDING CONTACT BEARING

2 2
 ns D  ns  D  4  2 r 3 L n s 4  2 r 3 L n s
a) S    b) T f    c) T f  d) Tf 
p  Cd  p  Cd  Cd Cr
35. In the equations below, identify the equation of Sommerfeld Number or journal bearing characteristic number.
  n  r 2  D   n  r 2 
a)         S    s       S
s
b) f
 p  Cr   Cd  p  Cr  
2
 ns  D  4  2 r 3 L n s
c) S    d) Tf 
p  Cd  Cd

36. A journal bearing with diameter of 76.2 mm is subjected to a load of 4900 N while rotating at 200 rpm. If its coefficient
of friction is 0.02 and L/D = 2.5, find its projected area in mm2.
a) 14 516.1 mm2 b) 14 615.1 mm2 c) 14 165.1 mm2 d) 14 156.1 mm2

ANSWERS

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JCSD MECHANICAL ENGINEERING REVIEWER MACHINE DESIGN: SLIDING CONTACT BEARING

1. A.a, B.c, C.a, D.a,

E.b
2. A.a, B.b, C.a, D.a,
E.a
3. c
4. a
5. b

6. b
7. b
8. a
9. c
10. b

11. b
12. d
13. b
14. a
15. a

16. b
17. c
18. d
19. a
20. b

21. a
22. a
23. b
24. b
25. a

26. c
27. a
28. d
29. a
30. b

31. a
32. c
33. d
34. d
35. c

36. a

33