Elastohydrodynamic analysis of multistep texture effects and partial surface roughness on the tribological performance of steel journal bearings

Abstract Journal bearings are critical components designed to facilitate the smooth and consistent rotation of shafts around specific axes. To meet the demands for efficient and cost-effective applications in high-speed machinery, it is imperative to enhance the tribological performance of journal bearings. This study investigates the impact of multistep texture geometry and partial surface roughness on the tribological behavior of journal bearings fabricated from steel. Experimental analyses were performed using Newtonian fluids across varying rotational speeds to evaluate the interplay between geometry and material properties. To further explore these dynamics, a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model integrated with fluid–structure interaction (FSI) was employed, accounting for the effects of cavitation and material deformation under elastohydrodynamic lubrication conditions. The study also introduced partially rough surface boundary conditions to the multistep journal bearings, hypothesizing their potential to enhance lubrication performance. Results demonstrate that surface texture and roughness significantly influence the elastohydrodynamic lubrication and overall tribological performance of steel journal bearings. Additionally, variations in rotational speed were found to have a pronounced effect on lubrication efficiency. These findings provide valuable insights into optimizing journal bearing design for high-performance applications.