Solutions

Lubrication Simulation

GT-SUITE the tool of choice to design, analyze, and optimize lubrication systems and components

Talk to an Expert View All Solutions

Solution Overview

From 3D CAD File To 1D Flow Model

Steady state models can be used to predict pressure, flow rate and temperature distribution throughout the oil circuit.

Transient runs can be performed to predict system priming (filling), resonance and wave dynamics in the system, energy loss in the system over a driving or duty cycle, thermal warm-up, and integration with cooling system models.

Furthermore, oil system components can be studied in detail including pumps with automated model building of vane and gerotor style pumps, bearings with both fast-running Mobility and detailed finite element options, cam phasers, and hydraulic lash adjusters.

Highly detailed 3D render of an engine cooling system cutaway, showing coolant circulation through the radiator, water pump, and hoses with glowing fluid visualization
3D to 1D

Application Highlights

Lubrication System Simulation

  • Steady state pressure, flow and temperature distribution in oil system
  • Transient analysis for cold start priming, driving cycle simulation and thermal warm-up
  • Easy integration with cranktrains and valvetrains for bearing load predictions
  • Automated system and pump model building from 3D CAD file to 1D flow model
  • Multiple bearing modeling options: Mobility method, FE HD and EHD methods
  • Accurate wave dynamics based on Navier-Stokes equations
  • Conservation of Mass, Momentum, Energy and Species
Vehicle Cooling
3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) or thermal-fluid network simulation model

Advanced Features

Advanced Lubrication Capabilities

Improve Reliability with Advanced Lubrication Modeling

check mark icon

Wear Simulation with Evolving Surface Modeling

Model progressive wear of fluid film bearings and 3D contacts under user-defined operating conditions or duty cycles.

check mark icon

Automated Wear Progression Workflow

The built-in Wear Simulation Wizard automates iterative wear progression calculations, cutting manual setup time and requiring no deep solver expertise.

check mark icon

Custom Meshing for EHD Bearing Analysis

Define custom finite element meshes for hydrodynamic solutions using FEMesh2D inside JournalBearingGeomFE.

check mark icon

Oil Circuit Priming and Transient Fill Simulation

Simulate transient filling of a lubrication system from an air filled initial state, capturing oil front progression through the circuit.

check mark icon

Fast-Running Oil Property Models for Rapid Iteration

Fast-running fluid property objects soften oil compressibility to increase solver time step size, cutting runtime for transient and priming studies without sacrificing design fidelity.

check mark icon

Comprehensive Oil Consumer Modeling

All oil consumers can be modeled including jets, lash adjusters, cam-phasers, turbo leakage, and others.

Lubrication System Performance Modeling FAQs

Find answers to common technical questions about GT-SUITE for lubrication system performance modeling.

  • What types of lubrication systems can GT-SUITE model?

    GT-SUITE covers the full range of engine lubrication system components and scenarios. Whether you are working on a steady-state flow analysis or a complex transient simulation, the platform handles it all.

  • How does GT-SUITE's approach differ from other lubrication modeling tools?

    Most tools use a simplified electrical analogy to approximate oil flow. GT-SUITE solves the full Navier-Stokes equations using momentum based 1D CFD, meaning it captures real pressure wave dynamics, transient behavior, and air/vapor transport through the system. The result is more accurate predictions, especially during cold starts and under unsteady operating conditions.

  • What outputs and predictions can I get from lubrication system modeling?

    GT-SUITE delivers a wide range of results, including pressure and flow rate at every point in the circuit, bearing film thickness, journal orbit, and hydrodynamic pressure, oil temperature distribution and thermal warm-up response, as well as cavitation and aeration levels throughout the system. All results are reviewed in GT-POST, where you can compare cases and plot performance across operating conditions.

  • Can I import CAD files to build my lubrication model?

    Yes. Using the GEM3D pre-processor inside GT-ISE, you can import your existing CAD geometry and convert it into a ready-to-run 1D flow network. Supported formats include ACIS (.sab), STL (.stl), and IGES (.igs). This significantly reduces model build time, especially when working from an existing engine design.

Connect with an Expert

Looking for guidance on a systems simulation challenge or project? Fill out the form below and our team will reach out to discuss how we can help.

Prefer to call?

+1 (555) 123-4567 or email [email protected]