The Influence of Oil-Film Journal Bearings on the Stability of Rotating Machines

Abstract

Abstract The self-excited vibration caused by the lubricating films of journal bearings and commonly called oil-film whirl or oil whip is discussed. The upper limit of whirling frequency has been found to be one-half rotational frequency in the general case; actually the phenomenon will manifest itself at a frequency which is invariably below this limit. Stability criteria have been developed for certain common systems in terms of bearing and rotor parameters. The tilting-pad bearing of Michell has been established as a so-called “stable” or “nonwhirling” bearing. This bearing and related types are probably the only oil-film journal bearings which are incapable of exciting oil whip, regardless of the system to which they are applied. Qualitatively the results of the paper appear to be in agreement with observations. In certain cases, results have been substantiated experimentally.