Friction and Wear in Engineering
Journal bearings are a type of bearing that supports a rotating shaft and allows it to spin smoothly within its housing. These bearings rely on a thin film of lubricating fluid to maintain separation between the moving surfaces, which helps reduce friction and wear while providing stability to the shaft during operation. The effectiveness of journal bearings is closely tied to the principles of hydrodynamic lubrication, where the motion of the shaft generates a pressure buildup in the lubricant, preventing direct contact between the surfaces.
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