An Efficient, Robust, and Time Accurate Numerical Scheme Applied to a Cavitation Algorithm

In this paper, an implicit numerical scheme, based on an approximate factorization technique, is applied to a cavitation algorithm. The algorithm is a modified version of the Elrod cavitation algorithm, which automatically predicts film rupture and reformation in bearings. At each time step, Newton iterations are performed to achieve time accurate solutions for unsteady problems. This numerical scheme is applied in both orthogonal and nonorthogonal grid arrangements. An aligned finite grooved bearing and a flared, misaligned line grooved bearing are analyzed using this new approach. The predictions are compared with the results obtained with procedures currently being used. The new scheme is robust, quickly convergent, and provides time accurate solutions with a minimum expenditure of CPU time.