Analysis of wear-fatigue damage and modification of compressor bearings

Wear-fatigue damage of two-layer (babbitt, bronze) bushings of piston compressor bearings are analyzed. The factors generating fretting wear and fatigue cracking are analyzed. The stress-strain state of a multimodule bushing of the standard and new designs (with auxiliary strengthening by a steel layer) has been calculated with the intent of modifying the friction joints. The proposed modification was found to ensure a twofold reduction of tensile stresses in the babbitt and bronze layers, decreased slippage, and pliability to fretting on the bushing backside. The modified bearings have shown a several-fold increase in their service life in the experimental industrial conditions.