Engineering Commons^™

Surface Roughness Effects In Hydrodynamic Lubrication, Johnny Lynn Teale

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

Prediction of pressure and leakage in a hydrodynamic bearing when surface roughness effects are important is an essential step in bearing design. The inclusion of surface roughness effects in bearing analysis allows more accurate prediction of bearing life. It has been shown that the average flow model developed by Cheng and Patir is a promising technique for determining surface roughness effects. The objective of this investigation is to examine the validity, applicability and limitation of the average flow model. Validity of the average flow model is ascertained by checking the independence of flow factors. Discussion of the general Reynolds equation …

A Design Study For A Wavy Hydrodynamic Mechanical Face Seal, Raymond Edward Pierce

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

A desirable objective of mechanical face seal design is to achieve the maximum hydrodynamic load support possible while main­taining an acceptable leakage. In this way, mechanical face seal life can be greatly extended as the wear of the seal faces is significantly reduced. It has been shown that circumferentially varying waviness of one of the faces of a mechanical face seal causes such hydrodynamic lubrication.

The objective of this investigation is to examine the performance characteristics of the wavy mechanical face seal by studying the effects of certain design parameters. Seal performance is measured by leakage and wear rate. The …

Geothermal Energy: Heat Extraction From Hot-Dry-Rock Masses In The Presence Of Secondary Thermal Cracks, Yaw-Min Lu

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

Additional heat extraction from geothermal energy reservoirs depends on the feasibility to extend the main, hydraulic fracture through secondary thermal cracks of the adjacent hot rock. When the main, hydraulic fracture is cooled sufficiently, these secon­dary thermal cracks are produced normal to the main fracture surface, As such, both the heat transfer surface area and heat energy available to the fluid circulating through the main, hydraulic fracture system increase.