In this study, the effect of dimensions and location of oil grooves on the static performance of a cylindrical journal bearing is analyzed numerically. Axial length, circumferential length and location of oil grooves are considered as parameters. Cavitation occurs within the diverging region of a journal bearing. The distribution of cavitation region where cavitation occurs varies with dimensions and location of oil grooves and affects the performance of a journal bearing. Elrod’s cavitation algorithm which implements JFO boundary conditions based on the principle of mass conservation at the interfaces between cavitation and full film region is adopted in order to consider the effect of cavitation. The result shows that parameters, especially location of oil
grooves have a great effect on the static performance of a journal bearing.