Experimental research on the interface lubrication regimes transition of water lubricated bearing

This paper aims to experimentally investigate the influences of surface topography and operating conditions on lubrication regimes transition of water lubricated bearing in submarine. Simulations are also performed under the same settings and operating conditions. The calculated and experimental results agree well. Effects of surface roughness, external loads, radial clearances, the acceleration and deceleration process on the lubrication regimes transition are further investigated. Characteristic parameters of the lubrication regimes transition are summarized. Reasonable explanations are given to illustrate the results as well as the relative errors. It has certain guiding significance for further step investigation on influences of surface topography on lubrication regimes transition of such bearings.