Study of Processes in Critical Operating Conditions of Sliding Pairs

Preliminary note The occurrence of working irregularities in journal bearing such as loss of geometry correctness, sudden failure of lubrication, overloading, etc., requires that serious damage of journal bearings have to be overcome in a short period of time. In such cases, it is important that the applied combinations of materials and lubricants do not have a tendency to seizure. Such critical conditions were simulated in this work for various combinations of materials and lubricants. Model research was carried out using the adapted Timken device and results were compared with the real loaded bearing. Data for nominal working conditions has shown relatively good agreement with calculated values whereas maximum frictional moment was significantly higher for the real bearing. This difference was explained as a consequence of different lubricating conditions. Nevertheless, a profile of the frictional moment was qualitatively similar compared to a model testing for equal combination of material and lubricant, thus confirming initial assumptions.