Theoretical and Experimental Study on Dynamic Coefficients and Stability for a Hydrostatic/Hydrodynamic Conical Bearing

Abstract

This paper presents a theoretical study and experimental method to recognize the dynamic performance (stiffness and damping coefficients) of an externally pressurized deep/shallow pockets hybrid conical bearing compensated by flat capillary restrictors. The equations governing the flow of fluid film in the conical bearing together with the pressure boundary condition and the restrictor flow equation are solved by using the finite element method. A delicate test rig is constructed and bearings having a big end diameter of 97 mm, a length of 90 mm, and a radial clearance of 0.02–0.025 mm are analyzed. It is assumed that the fluid film force of the hydrostatic/hydrodynamic conical bearing is characterized by a set of linear stiffness and damping coefficients. The experiment used the impulse excitation method to recognize these coefficients and established their characteristics under different operating conditions. Numerical results are compared with the experimental results. The stability parameters of hybrid conical, hydrodynamic, and hydrostatic bearings are compared. The results show that the hybrid conical bearing has the advantages of high load carrying capability and high stability under small eccentricity.