Experimental Method for Determining Minimum Film Thickness inside Journal Bearing

Experimental method for determining minimum film thickness is a very important aspect in the design of hydrodynamic bearing. It can help the designer to predict the respective behavior of the shaft and the bearing under running condition. However due to limitation o f mechanical measuring instruments, the experimental or practical measurement method has not been established except the method which uses high speed photography. The method of using high speed photography is expensive and due to limitation In photographic resolutions, the need for a better and more efficient way of minimum film thickness measurement is highly essential. This work aims at establishing a simple, efficient and cost effective practical way of minimum film thickness measurement. The approach followed In this work is to overcome the limitations of mechanical measuring instruments by Incorporating electrical and electronics devices and to relate them to mechanical benefits. The proposed work has been tested for its feasibility and it had given us encouraging results to carry on. The relationship between distance and the two electrical parameters, capacitance and resistance, had been successfully established in the form o f correlation, which can serve as standard to measure minimum film thickness inside journal bearing. Based upon the experimentally established result, a proposed method has also been put forward, considering the success and limitation of the work carried out. It can help in designing and study of hydrodynamic journal bearing.