Open AccessNumerical Simulation of the Cavitation in the Hydrodynamic Lubrication of Journal Bearings: a Parallel Algorithm
Author(s) -
Mariângela Amendola,
Carlos A. de Moura,
José Vitório Zago,
Petrônio Pulino,
Francisco A. M. Gomes
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
revista brasileira de ciências mecânicas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0100-7386
DOI - 10.1590/s0100-73862001000300006
Subject(s) - conjugate gradient method , variational inequality , cavitation , finite element method , lubrication , algorithm , fluid bearing , iterative method , boundary (topology) , numerical analysis , computer science , mathematics , mathematical analysis , mechanics , mechanical engineering , physics , engineering , structural engineering
In this paper we present an algorithm for the numerical simulation of the cavitation in the hydrodynamic lubrication of journal bearings. Despite the fact that this physical process is usually modelled as a free boundary problem, we adopted the equivalent variational inequality formulation. We propose a two-level iterative algorithm, where the outer iteration is associated to the penalty method, used to transform the variational inequality into a variational equation, and the inner iteration is associated to the conjugate gradient method, used to solve the linear system generated by applying the finite element method to the variational equation. This inner part was implemented using the element by element strategy, which is easily parallelized. We analyse the behavior of two physical parameters and discuss some numerical results. Also, we analyse some results related to the performance of a parallel implementation of the algorithm