| Abstract: | The oil gap profile in a hydrodynamic thrust bearing exerts a great influence on the bearing properties, and hence the optimisation of the oil gap profile is one method for improving the bearing properties. In the present work, the properties of two hydrodynamic thrust bearings have been experimentally compared under realistic load/ speed conditions. One was a typical tilting‐pad bearing and the other was an unconventional bearing with an elastic thrust plate. The latter was designed using oil gap profile optimisation and design parameter selection. Owing to the design method used, the oil gap profile was close to optimum for the assumed load/speed conditions. The results show a substantial increase in the minimum oil film thickness and lower temperature in the bearing with the elastic thrust plate. This improvement of properties is thought to be because of the optimised oil gap profile in the bearing. |
