Abstract: On the base of the Elrod algorithm, a generalized equation is derived to describe the lubrication in full film region and in cavitation region of dynamically loaded journal bearing, which is nominated as the incompressible mass-conserving cavitation algorithm. A numerical technique with this algorithm has been solved. By the definition of a switch function g and a variable x, which have different meaning in different zone, a generalized equation is derived to integrate the Reynolds equation in full film region with the lubrication equation in cavitation region. This algorithm can predict the moving oil boundary automatically and make the mass conserving boundary condi-tion (JFO theory) more easily and precisely to be applied in actual analysis. It is found that the analysis results with the incompressible mass-conserving cavitation algorithm have good agreement with the existing experiment data. The incom-pressible cavitation algorithm can predict the history moving of cavitation well. And it is also shown that the pressure value in the cavitation has great effect on the analysis results.

Key words: Cavitation, Journal bearing, Mass conserving boundary condition