Performance characteristics of a capillary-compensated hydrostatic journal bearing

Results are presented of an extensive experimental investigation into the performance of a six-pocket hydrostatic journal bearing with pockets of non-uniform depth subjected to a range of static loads. Lubricating oil was supplied, at pressures of up to 8.957 MN m^?2 (1300 Ibf in^?2), to capillarytype restrictors, connected to the six pockets in the bearing. The bearing had an $\text{L}\text{D}$ ratio of unity and operated with a journal rotation ranging from zero to 2000 rev min^?1.The measured load capacity and the stiffness characteristics indicated that bearings of this type had a significant load capacity which was limited by the bending of the shaft. The load capacity increased with speed at low supply pressures, but decreased slightly with increasing speed at higher supply pressures. The stiffness increased with eccentricity ratio except at low supply pressures. Film pressure surveys aided the elucidation of some of the bearing performance characteristics.     

Thermal effects in cylindrical journal bearings of high‐speed gearboxes

The high rotational speeds and loads of gears operating in acceleration gearboxes causes problems related to the correct choice and design of journal or rolling bearings. In the case of journal bearings, these problems are connected with thermoelastohydrodynamic lubrication theory and the dynamics of the bearing system. However, of major importance is the problem of thermal effects in journal bearings. This has been considered for bearings used in a double‐helical gearbox with the pinion and output shaft operating in cylindrical journal bearings. The oil film pressure, temperature, viscosity distributions, and maximum and mean oil film temperatures have been determined. In calculations, laminar adiabatic and turbulent adiabatic models of oil films have been applied. The results of the calculations can be used in the design of cylindrical or other types of journal bearing in rotating machinery, including acceleration or reduction gearboxes.     

Temperature,pressure and film thickness measurements for an offset half bearing

A fluid film journal bearing test rig with a shaft, 70 mm in diameter, was developed and an offset half journal bearing was tested at five vertical loads and two rotational speeds. The bearing had a length-to-diameter ratio of 1.00, a pre-load factor of 0.51 and an offset factor of 1.0. Loads from 0 to 4450 N and speeds of 2250 and 1650 rev min⁻¹ were tested. On-rotor instrumentation and amplification are used to measure continuous fluid film pressures around the bearing, film thicknesses and journal temperatures. Slip ring telemetry is used to transmit the data to a real time data collection system. External instrumentation is used to measure film pressures and temperatures in discrete locations on the bearing surface, thus, allowing comparison with the on-shaft measurements. The eccentricity ratio and attitude angle are pressure measurements obtained indicate agreement within 5% between the results recorded by the on-shaft and the external pressure transducers. The experimental film thickness, temperature and pressure profiles and journal eccentricity agree with the expected behavior for this bearing type and are presented for Sommerfeld numbers from 0.41 to 2.2.     

A stability analysis for a hydrodynamic three-wave journal bearing

The influence of the wave amplitude and oil supply pressure on the dynamic behavior of a hydrodynamic three-wave journal bearing is presented. Both, a transient and a small perturbation technique, were used to predict the threshold to fractional frequency whirl (FFW). In addition, the behavior of the rotor after FFW appeared was determined from the transient analysis. The turbulent effects were also included in the computations.Bearings having a diameter of 30 mm, a length of 27.5 mm, and a clearance of 35 μm were analyzed. Numerical results were compared to experimental results obtained at the NASA GRC. Numerical and experimental results showed that the above-mentioned wave bearing with a wave amplitude ratio of 0.305 operates stably at rotational speeds up to 60,000 rpm, regardless of the oil supply pressure. For smaller wave amplitude ratios, a threshold of stability was found. It was observed that the threshold of stability for lower wave amplitude strongly depends on the oil supply pressure and on the wave amplitude.When the FFW occurs, the journal center maintains its trajectory inside the bearing clearance and therefore the rotor can be run safely without damaging the bearing surfaces.     

Influence of Journal Speed and Load on the Static Operating Characteristics of a Tilting-Pad Journal Bearing with Ball-and-Socket Pivots

Results are described for experiments aimed at determining the effects of increased speed and load on ball-and-socket pivots in tilting-pad journal bearings. Experimental measurements of journal static operating position were made for a 70-mm (2.75-in.), five-pad tilting-pad journal bearing with ball-and-socket pivots. Testing consisted of journal rotational speeds from 1650 to 7840 rpm and bearing static loads as high as 4.45 kN (1000 lbs). These speeds and loads were sufficient to attain a range of heat generation and pivot thermal growths. Results showed that at low speeds substantial cross-coupling effects were present. However, with increased heat generation at elevated speeds and loads, these cross-coupling effects were significantly reduced.     

Experimental study of journal bearings with undulating journal surface

A journal bearing test rig was designed and constructed to test the behaviour of journals with wavy surfaces, the circumferential undulations being varied both in amplitude and in number. Results show that wavy journal surfaces may well enhance the load carrying capacity of a bearing. Moreover, surface undulations are shown to move the journal centre locus closer to the load line, ie cause a lower attitude angle. These effects are found to be more pronounced with larger wave amplitudes, and with higher numbers of waves around the journal circumference. In general, friction is found to be reduced with increase in surface wave amplitude.Good agreement is shown to exist between test results and a computer aided analysis conducted by the authors to predict wavy journals performance¹. It has been established that a wavy journal surface may, under certain conditions, display higher load capacity, lower friction and permit safer running of journal than bearings with perfectly smooth surfaces.     

Dry Lubricated Bearings for Operation in a Vacuum

Ball bearings incorporating two different types of dry self-lubricating retainer materials were successfully operated in a vacuum over the pressure range of 1 × 10^?7 to 2 × 10^?8 (mm of H) torr for prolonged periods of time. A 20 mm bore ball bearing of AISI M-10 tool steel with a filled plastic retainer was operated over a range of temperatures from 100 F to 160 F and similar bearings with filled metal retainers were operated over a temperature range of ?300 F to 450 F, at radial loads up to 75 pounds. Other ball bearings using both types of self-lubricating retainer materials were operated in electric motors in the vacuum environment.

In selecting the dry self-lubricating materials for the ball bearing tests, plastics powders and composite materials were screened in an inert atmosphere to determine wear and friction characteristics. Each of the materials that exhibited desirable lubricating properties was then subjected to a vacuum at elevated temperatures to determine the rate of outgassing. These materials were then satisfactorily used as the dry self-lubricating retainers in the 20 mm bearings which operated in the vacuum environment.     

Impact of high pressure and shear thinning on journal bearing friction

For the study of mixed lubrication in journal bearings, this paper employs a combined experimental and simulative approach. Extensive measurements on a journal bearing test rig with a low viscosity 0W20 multi-grade lubricant provide a solid basis which is complemented by experimental lubricant data that is measured under high pressure and high shear rates. In this paper, this data is used to investigate the impact of the piezoviscous effect and the non-Newtonian lubricant properties on the friction power losses in journal bearings over a wide range of dynamic loads and shaft speeds.In particular, this work seeks to predict the friction power losses for journal bearings under both moderate (50 MPa peak load) and high dynamic loads (100 MPa peak load) using the recently presented accurate numerical method (Allmaier et al., 2011 [1], Allmaier et al., 2013 [2]). From the direct comparison to the experimental data a key finding is that the simulation conforms very closely to the measured data. To be more exact, the agreement lies within the measurement uncertainty.Following this result, the influence of the often neglected piezoviscous effect and the non-Newtonian lubricant rheology is investigated. We conclude that both the piezoviscous effect and the non-Newtonian behaviour are essential to describe the lubrication with multi-grade lubricants in journal bearings. Only the consideration of both properties describes the experimental data very accurately over the entire range of operating conditions studied.     

Comparison of tribological characteristics between aluminum alloys and polytetrafluoroethylene composites journal bearings under mineral oil lubrication

This study examined the tribological behavior of journal bearings made from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composites and aluminum (Al) alloys. The PTFE composite journal bearings consisted of a steel backing with a thickness of 1.6 mm, a middle layer of sintered porous bronze with a thickness of 0.24～0.27 mm, and a surface layer of PTFE filled with fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) powder and carbon fibers with a thickness 0.06～0.14 mm. The other was an aluminum alloy journal bearing consisted of a steel backing with a thickness of 1.5 mm and a surface layer of an Al-6Sn-6Si alloy with a thickness 0.35～0.75 mm. A series of lubrication tests were performed using a journal bearing tester under various normal loads. The tribological properties for each journal bearing were evaluated by measuring the lubricant oil temperature and friction coefficient as a function of the applied normal load. In addition, the chemical compositions and microstructures of the journal bearing materials used in this study was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma (ICP), optical microscopy (OM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The experimental results showed that the Al alloy journal bearings reduce the friction coefficient by 28 % compared to the PTFE composites bearings. In addition, the Al alloy journal bearing worked properly at the maximum load of ～ 8,000 N without adhesion. However, the PTFE composite journal bearings exhibited strong adhesion at the loads ranging from 6300 to 8000 N. This suggests that the Al alloy is a more promising material in journal bearings than PTFE composites.     

Isotherm mapping in the bushes of high speed journal bearings

A high speed journal bearing rig has been designed to study thermal effects in bearings operating in turbulent regions. The apparatus consisted of a journal of diameter 7.62 cm with a diametrical clearance of 0.256 mm rotated over a speed range of 20 000 – 55 000 rev min^?1 for a load range of 1100 – 6600 N. Sixty Ni-Cr/Ni-Al thermocouples of diameter 0.5 mm embedded in the bush of the test bearing enabled lines of constant temperature to be plotted over the surface of the bush. Particular studies were made of the influence of carry-over oil and bearing misalignment.     

An experimental investigation of thermal effects in circular and elliptical plain journal bearings

Hydrodynamic journal bearings can experience a significant variation in film (bush) temperature. Reliable data of operating temperatures in these bearings are very useful and important for practical bearing designers and mathematical modellers. A two-axial-groove circular bearing and an elliptical (lemon-bore) bearing, both 110 mm in diameter, have been tested at specific loads up to 4 MPa and rotational frequencies up to 120 Hz. Power loss and flow rate were measured directly and detailed temperature information was collected by an automated data acquisition system. In this paper, the experimental apparatus is described and some of the experimental data are presented. The results show that the thermal effects are significant in both bearings.     

Dynamic behaviour of externally pressurized gas journal bearings with multiple supply holes

A theoretical analysis of the dynamic behaviour of externally pressurized journal bearings using a compressible lubricant is made. Two aspects, (i) “squeeze-film” due to harmonic vibration of a stationary journal and (ii) steady-whirl instability of an unloaded rotating journal were studied. The bearing configuration considered had double plane admission feed holes at quarter station. The effect of recess volume at the downstream of the orifices was considered. The dynamic load and moment were determined for various frequencies, recess volumes and bearing design dimensions. Stability charts of whirl are given for various journal speeds, feed and bearing design parameters.     

Rotor dynamic instability analysis on hybrid air journal bearings

Hybrid air journal bearings with multi-array of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5-row orifice feedings are analyzed for the problem of rotor dynamic instability. The bearing stiffness and damping coefficients are calculated numerically to determine threshold rotor mass under various operating conditions. The hybrid porous air journal bearings are also analyzed for comparison to investigate the similarities in dynamic characteristics between the multi-array of orifice feeding bearings and the porous bearings. The results show that the porous bearing is more stable than the orifice feeding bearing at lower rotation speeds (Λ<0.1) or at higher rotation speeds (Λ>1) with lower feeding parameters (λ_P<10⁻⁸). The 5-row orifice feeding bearing is more stable than the porous bearing at moderate speeds (0.3<Λ<0.6) with lower feeding parameters (λ₀<10⁻⁴).     

Parametric study of solid-lubricant composites as ball-bearing cages

The performance of two polymer-based materials (polyimide/MoS₂ and ptfe/ glass fibre/MoS₂) as self-lubricating cages for ball bearings has been comprehensively evaluated. The two composites emerged as the most promising for operating at elevated temperatures during screening tests in a thrust-bearing geometry and were then tested in four sizes of 440C stainless steel single-row radial ball bearings at a range of loads, speeds and temperatures.Two regimes of operation were observed: the first with essentially zero steel wear when the lubricant transfer film is complete and bearing life is dictated by cage wear; the second with finite steel wear when the transfer film is only partially effective and bearing life is dictated by increase in internal clearance. The ball/raceway stress at which steel wear starts to occur is very low (< 1.2 × 10³ MN m^?2) compared to the stress implied by the catalogue load capacity of the bearings. The ball/raceway stress also has an important effect on both steel wear rate and cage wear rate.Overall, the ptfe-based composite gave lower steel and cage wear than did the polyimide-based composite, but the latter could be operated at higher temperatures (up to 360° C) and at slow speeds it gave a higher load capacity before the onset of steel wear.Using the wear results as a basis, a Bearing Performance Guide has been produced which provides a convenient means of approximately predicting the bearing life over a wide range of operating conditions     

Experimental investigation of the temperature fade in the cavitation zone of full journal bearings

This paper describes an experimental investigation with a rig for measuring the surface temperatures and pressures in single bore journal bearings. The test bearing was equipped with small bores, where the pressure was altered by means of a vacuum pump. The whole bearing arrangement can also be operated at different ambient pressures ranging from atmospheric down to −0.06 MPa. Oil temperatures at inlet and outlet are also measured. Experiments show a considerable drop in the temperature of oil undergoing a drop in pressure. The overall temperature level of the bearing system did not seem to affect the magnitude of the temperature drop. Experiments where the bearing system was operated at sub-ambient pressures revealed an increased temperature drop in the cavitation zone. Pressures higher than ambient were measured within the cavitation zone while the bearing was operated at sub-atmospheric pressure. The higher pressures are believed to be caused by evaporation of oil. It is therefore proposed that the temperature drop observed in the cavitation zone of journal bearings is primarily caused by evaporation of oil. However, isentropic decompression of the gases in the oil is also believed to play a role.     

Characteristics of a hybrid journal bearing with one recess: Part 1: Dynamic considerations

A fluid film hybrid journal bearing with one recess, as used in tandem cold rolling mills, is studied theoretically in two ways. The dynamic response of the hybrid bearing, under isothermal conditions due to the decrease in hydrostatic pressure, is considered and presented in Part 1 of the study, while the thermal effects on the load capacity, temperature distribution, etc of the bearing will be dealt with and described in Part 2.In this paper, the dynamic behaviour of the journal due to the decrease in hydrostatic pressure is presented in the form of transient orbits and squeezed-film speeds, which are shown to be dependent on the initial equilibrium conditions. In the analysis, when the recess pressure is dropped below the hydrodynamic pressure generated by the fluid film, it is found to be difficult to obtain a convergent solution. The dynamic response of the bearing, due to the shut-off of external pressure is, therefore, simulated by the dynamic behaviour of the journal due to a series of pressure drops in arbitrary time intervals. The results show that the journal is quite stable in such conditions.     

On the dynamic loading of gear teeth as affected by journal motion in a hydrodynamic bearing-rotor-gear pair system

The paper is an attempt to include the effect of journal motion and the oil film forces on the determination of dynamic gear tooth loading in a hydrodynamic bearing-rotor-gear pair system. A mathematical model has been developed which relates dynamic loads on the teeth of an involute spur gear pair to the instantaneous state of the pinion journal centre in the oil film space and various bearing parameters. The direction of instantaneous line of action is determined from kinematic considerations. effects of both the full-film (360 degrees) and the cavitated π-film models of the journal bearing are used to arrive at the aforementioned relationships. Dynamic loads on gear teeth as well as on bearing film have been calculated when the journal traces certain specified paths in the clearance space. Some of the results emphasize the importance of coupling gear analysis with bearing analysis.     

Influence of elastic effects on the performance of slot-entry journal bearings

Modern high-performance machines require bearings to operate under stringent conditions. For bearings operating under heavy loads, the bearing deformations can no longer be neglected as they are comparable to the order of magnitude of the fluid film thickness. This paper describes the performance of slot-entry hydrostatic/hybrid journal bearings by considering bearing shell flexibility in the analysis. The relevant governing equations have been solved by the finite element method. Slot-entry journal bearings of two separate configurations have been studied over a wide range of bearing operating and geometric parameters. Elastic effects are found to significantly affect the static and dynamic performance characteristics of the bearing studied. The study indicates that, for given operating conditions, to get optimum performance of a bearing proper selection of the bearing flexibility parameter ( ), the concentric design pressure ratio ( ) and the type of bearing configuration (symmetric/asymmetric) are essential.     

Oil whip-induced wear in journal bearings

This paper investigates the effect of oil whirl and oil whip in fluid film radial bearings due to possible metallic contact. The degree of metallic contact and thereby wear and tear between rotating shafts and bearing bushes is assessed by measuring electric currents through the oil film. The current as well as the voltage varied in accordance with the contact ratio between the shaft and bush in the fluid film radial bearing. The gauge signal thus indicates the degree of metallic contact based on the thickness of the oil film in the load zone. Some experimental results are provided to illustrate that at low normalised loads involving oil whirl and oil whip, no electric current is detected, while high levels of electric current are registered at high load levels when no oil whirl or oil whip occurred. It is therefore concluded that at low loads, oil whirl and oil whip have little influence on wear and tear in a journal bearing.     

Thermohydrodynamic analysis of a worn plain journal bearing

Hydrodynamic journal bearings are widely used in industry because of their simplicity, efficiency and low cost. They support rotating shafts over a number of years and are often subjected to many stops and starts. During these transient periods, friction is high and the bushes become progressively worn, thus inducing certain disabilities. This paper seeks to present the thermohydrodynamic performance of a worn plain journal bearing. The study deals with a 100 mm diameter bearing, submitted to a static load varying from 5000 to 30,000 N with a rotational speed varying from 1000 to 10,000 rpm. The defects caused by wear are centered on the load line and range from 10% to 50% of the bearing radial clearance. Our main focus was on hydrodynamic pressure, temperature distributions at the film/bush interface, oil flow rate, power losses and film thickness. Defects caused by wear of up to 20% have little influence on bearing performance whereas above this value (30 to 50%) they can display an interesting advantage: a significant fall in temperatures, due to the tendency of the bearing to go into the footprint created by the wear. Thus, the worn bearing presents not only some disadvantages but also advantages, such as lower temperature, since in certain cases of significant defects due to wear the geometry approaches that of a lobe bearing.