Analysis of the Taper-Land Bearing Pad

Abstract

A computational analysis of hydrodynamically lubricated rectangular taper-land pads is presented. The geometrical parameters in the analysis are width/length ratio, land extent and film ratio. To permit assessment of the influence of variable viscosity, a linear decrease of viscosity along the pad length was provided for. Performance data have been derived for load capacity, friction, lubricant flow rate and operating temperature. Attention is given to the influence of hot lubricant carry-over from one pad to the next in a multi-pad bearing and accordingly two distinctly different situations, namely, isolated pad and compact bearing, are considered. Apart from the practical desirability of a land to carry any load under stationary conditions, it is shown that a short land is beneficial under operating conditions but that a land greater than about 0·3 of pad length is undesirable. An example illustrating the application of the data to bearing performance prediction is given.