Experimental research of the couette flow with cross flow

Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau, Dr.-Friedrichs-Ring 2a, 08056 Zwickau, Germany

^* email: matthias.nobis@fh-zwickau.de, phone: +49 375/536 3804
^** email: peter.stuecke@fh-zwickau.de, phone: +49 375/536 3444
^*** email: marcus.schmidt.1@fh-zwickau.de, phone: +49 375/536 3893

Abstract

When a solid cylinder is rotating inside a hollow cylinder, a characteristic fluid flow occurs inside the gap between the two cylinders, caused by the adhesion of the fluid at the walls. This flow problem is widely known as the Couette-flow. If an additional flow entrances through a radial located feedhole at the outer hollow cylinder, there is an interaction between the cross flow and the Couette-flow. In result there are complex three dimensional flow structures in the gap at the area around the feedhole.

These arising flow structures are closely related with the technical important flow inside the gap of hydrodynamic lubricated journal bearings. When the flow conditions inside the bearing gap are well explored and appreciated, it will be possible to give suggestions for constructive details like the design, the location and the dimension of the feedhole for longer lifecycles or an even more efficiently running.

In this paper the test rig of the bearing model will be presented. Moreover some representative results from researches with a Laser-Doppler-Velocimeter (LDV) in comparison with the output of three dimensional numerical simulations will be illustrated.