LAUSR

The lubricating properties of water-lubricated rubber alloy bearings vary with different lubricating media. In this study, three types of media—pure water, saline, and sandy water—have been investigated using fluid-solid coupled numerical simulations and experimental methods. Lubricating properties, such as the water film pressure, rubber layer stress, and friction coefficient, are analyzed. The analysis shows that the water film pressure of the bearing generally increases and stabilizes with increasing rotational speed and eccentricity, but sandy water shows a greater increase compared with saline and pure water. The deformation and the stress of the carrying surface shows the same trend. In contrast, the friction coefficient decreases with increasing rotational speed and eccentricity in all of the different aqueous media, and it will gradually stabilize. Friction coefficient experiments and the analysis on wear status of the rubber were then carried out in the lubricating media mentioned. The analysis and tests show that sandy water has a great influence on the bearing lubrication properties. Therefore, it is an important factor for designing and using water-lubricated rubber alloy bearing.