Three-Dimensional Dynamic Model of TEHD Tilting-Pad Journal Bearing—Part II: Parametric Studies

Abstract

This paper presents a new analysis method for a thermo-elasto-hydro-dynamic (TEHD) tilting pad journal bearing (TPJB) system to reach a static equilibrium condition adopting nonlinear transient dynamic solver, whereas earlier studies have used iteration schemes such as Newton–Raphson method. The theoretical TPJB model discussed in Part I of this research is combined into a newly developed algorithm to perform a bearing dynamic analysis and present dynamic coefficients. In the nonlinear transient dynamic solver, physical and modal coordinates coexist for computational efficiency, and transformation between modal and physical coordinate is performed at each numerical integration time step. Variable time step Runge–Kutta numerical integration scheme is adopted for a reliable and fast calculation. Nonlinear time transient dynamic analysis and steady thermal analysis are combined to find the static equilibrium condition of the TPJB system, where the singular matrix issue of flexible pad finite element (FE) model is resolved. The flexible pad TPJB model was verified by comparison with other numerical results. Simulation results corresponding with the theoretical model explained in Part I are presented and discussed. It explains how the TPJB dynamic behavior is influenced by a number of eigenvector of flexible pad FE model and pad thickness. Preload change under fluid and thermal load is examined.