A full 3D computational model for tilting-pad journal bearings and comparing it to 2D models

In this paper, a new model is developed to analyze a tilting pad bearing with 5 pads in a load-between-pad configuration in three dimensions. Isothermal Navier-Stokes equations with phase fraction equation for cavitation model are solved for 3D steady state simulation using the OpenFOAM package. Results show that with decrease in eccentricity, the difference between the 3D and 2D simulations increases. This is mainly due to the fluid inertia...