A Study on Performance of Al-Si alloy Bearing with SAE20W40 as Lubricants in Constant Load and Varying Speed Condition

Abstract: Bearing is used to carry radial loads of transmitting members in motion is called as journal bearing. Journal bearings are considered as essential components of all the rotating machinery. Various researchers carried out analysis particularly on copper based alloys published information related to Aluminium-Silicon alloy as a bearing material and relevant information are not available. So in the present work it has been selected to carry out the study on performance of the Aluminium-Silicon alloy bearing by considering the SAE20W40 grade lubricating oils as lubricating mediums and study has been carried out to find out the maximum pressure distribution by using a journal bearing test rig. The Al-Si alloy as test bearing and test lubricating oils SAE20W40 is run at different loads and speeds either by constant load and varying speed conditions (Example; 150N, 300rpm). It is made to run for 1hour to take maximum pressure value at angular rotation of 180̊. Sensor mounted on the bellow of the housing which gives the pressure readings and the data are transferred to the WINDOWS DUCOM 2010 software, extract condition of the bearings and gives the pressure distribution graphs as shown outcomes. In the results found by the graphs at all operating conditions of constant load and varying speed. The maximum pressure distribution of SAE20W40 grade oil is 1744kPa at 500 rpm. It can be conclude that the load carrying capacity and frictional force which acts on the journal and bearing material is safer, where frictional force decrease when speed increases.