Temperature distribution simulation of a polymer bearing basing on the real tribological tests

Abstract

The paper presents an attempt of temperature distribution simulation of a polymer bearing. In order to create model, tribological tests were performed and thermal behavior of the bearing was observed until temperature constant values were achieved. Thermal simulations were done with commercial software package ANSYS Fluent for 3D geometrical model that included polymer bearing, its housing, shaft and some volume of the surrounding air. The heat generation caused by friction forces was implemented by volumetric heat source. The heat transfer and dissipation was through conduction, radiation and convection. The numerical model included all three mechanisms and in case of convection the heat transfer coefficient was not estimated by directly solved basing on the air flow around the bearing and adjacent parts.