Abstract: A theoretical investigation is carried out for the mechanism of starved lubrication of the floating ring bearing. According to Elrod algorithm, the finite difference method is adopted to solve Reynolds equation for obtaining both inner and outer oil film pressure distribution based on the Jakobsson-Floberg-Olsson(JFO) boundary condition. The analytical expression of the hydrodynamic force, flow rate and pressure-difference flow rate are derived. A model of the inner oil film pressure distribution is developed under starved lubrication. The lubrication model is then simulated by using Matlab software. The effects of load and lubricant feed pressure on the static equilibrium position of both ring and journal, side leakage of both inner and outer oil films and pressure-difference inlet flow rate are analysed. Furthermore, the static equilibrium position of the journal is discussed under starved lubrication. It is indicated that a heavy external load can lead to the large eccentricity of both ring and journal as well as the large side leakage of both inner and outer oil films, but the pressure-difference inlet flow rate will be decreased. The starved lubrication can not only lead to a rupture in the convergence gap of the inner oil film, but also decrease its load capability. Increasing lubricant feed pressure can obviously improve the pressure-difference inlet flow rate and also effectively avoid the occurrence of starved lubrication in the inner oil film.

Key words: floating ring bearing;JFO boundary condition;static equilibrium position;side leakage;pressure-difference inlet flow rate;starved lubrication