By considering the effects of multiple grooves, rubber deformation, and actual boundary conditions, the steady elastohydrodynamic lubrication mathematical model and the dynamic Reynolds equation of water-lubricated rubber bearings are presented. The Reynolds equation is solved numerically by the finite difference method, and the stiffness and damping coefficients are calculated from the real and imaginary parts of the integrated pressure. Analysis results suggest that angular velocity, eccentricity ratio, groove configuration, and radial clearance have significant effects on the steady state and dynamic stiffness as well as damping characteristics, which also help in designing proper structure parameters of water-lubricated rubber bearings to obtain better dynamic performance.
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