Dynamic and Static Characteristics of a Rocker-Pivot, Tilting-Pad Bearing with 50% and 60% Offsets.

Static performance and rotordynamic coefficients are provided for a rocker-pivot, tilting-pad journal bearing with 50 and 60 percent offset pads in a load-between-pad configuration. The bearing uses leading-edge-groove lubrication and has the following characteristics: 5-pads, 101.6 mm (4.0 in) nominal diameter, .0814 - .0837 mm (.0032 - .0033 in) radial bearing clearance, .25 to .27 preload, 60.325 mm (2.375 in) axial pad length. Operating conditions included loads from 0 to 3101 kPa (450 psi) and speeds from 7 to 16 krpm. Dynamic tests were conducted over a range of frequencies to obtain complex dynamic stiffness coefficients as functions of excitation frequency. For most test conditions, the direct real dynamic stiffnesses were well fitted with a quadratic function with respect to frequency. This curve fit allowed for the stiffness frequency dependency to be captured by including an added mass matrix [M] to a conventional [K][C] model, producing a frequency independent [K][C][M] model. The direct imaginary dynamic stiffness coefficients increased linearly with frequency, producing frequency independent direct damping coefficients. Compared to the 50 percent offset, the 60 percent offset configuration’s direct stiffness coefficients were larger at light unit loads. At high loads, the 50 percent offset configuration had a larger direct stiffness in the loaded direction. Negative direct added-mass coefficients were regularly obtained for both offsets, especially in the unloaded direction. Added-mass magnitudes were below 32 kg for all test cases. No appreciable difference was measured in direct damping coefficients for both pivot offset. A bulk-flow Navier-Stokes CFD code provided rotordynamic coefficient predictions. The following stiffness and damping prediction trends were observed for both 50 and 60 percent offsets. The direct stiffness coefficients were modeled well at light loads and became increasingly over-predicted with increasing unit load. Stiffness orthotropy was measured at zero and light load conditions that was not predicted. Direct damping predictions in the loaded direction increased significantly with unit load while the experimental direct damping coefficients remained constant with load. The direct damping coefficients were reasonably modeled only at the highest test speed of 16 krpm. Experimental cross-coupled stiffness coefficients were larger than predicted for both offsets, but were of the same sign and considerably smaller than the direct coefficients