International Journal of Industrial Engineering & Production Management

Optimum engine lubrication plays a significant role in maintaining a reliable and long life duty operation with economical benefits and costs. A poor engine lubrication design with tribological difficulty could lead to catastrophic engine failure with serious direct and chain damages that may cost the whole engine. Proper lubrication design contributes to mechanical efficiency and fuel consumption.

Numerical simulation methods can provide a powerful tool to optimize the engine lubrication system. In this paper the engine lubrication system is divided to several subsystems where these have been studied in detailed with a relevant set of governing equations. An “Engine Lub Sim” code is developed that has the capability of analysing this system. This code uses “linearized head correction” method and a successive over relaxation (SOR) approach in order to solve the set of equations. Also, a “Bear Load” computer code is developed to examine the eccentricity in journal bearings resulting from dynamic loading. The combination of these two codes gives a powerful tool to analyze the engine lubrication system.