The influence of eccentricity and inlet water temperature on the water film pressure of water-lubricated bearings

Abstract To explore the influence of eccentricity and inlet water temperature on the water film pressure of water-lubricated bearings, two different operating conditions are analyzed using ANSYS Fluent software for finite element analysis, grounded in the parameters of a laboratory small-scale underwater propeller’s water-lubricated bearings. The results indicate that, with all other conditions remaining unchanged, as the eccentricity gradually increases, the maximum positive pressure of the water film continuously increases, and the minimum negative pressure within the water film continuously decreases. Similarly, with all other conditions unchanged, as the temperature of the inlet water reduces, the maximum positive pressure within the water film continuously increases, and the minimum negative pressure of the water film continuously decreases.