A flexure journal bearing design is proposed that will improve operational behaviour of a journal bearing at pronounced misalignment. Using a thermoelastohydrodynamic model, it is shown that the proposed flexure journal bearing has vastly increased the hydrodynamic performance compared to the stiff bearing when misaligned. The hydrodynamic performance is evaluated on lubricant film thickness, pressure and temperature. Furthermore, the influence of a compliant bearing liner is investigated and it is found that it increases the hydrodynamic performance when applied to a stiff bearing, whereas the liner has practically no influence on the flexure journal bearing's performance.
BouyerJFillonM. Improvement of the thd performance of a misaligned plain journal bearing. J Tribol2003; 125: 334–342.
2.
BouyerJFillonM. An experimental analysis of misalignment effects on hydrodynamic plain journal bearing performances. J Tribol2002; 124: 313–319.
3.
BouyerJFillonMPierreI. Thermohydrodynamic behaviour of misaligned plain journal beaings: theoretical and experimental approaches. Tribol Trans2003; 47: 594–604.
4.
FillonM. On the thermal effects in hydrodynmaic journal bearings. Int J Appl Mech Eng2005; 3: 441–450.
5.
NikolakopoulosPPapadopoulosCKaiktsisL. Elastohydrodynamic analysis and pareto optimization of intact, worn and misaligned journal bearings. Meccanica2011; 46: 577–588.
6.
MihailidisABakolasVPanagiotidisK. Influence of the bushing geometry on the thermohydrodynamic performance of a misaligned journal bearing. Proc IMechE Part J: J Engineering Tribology2010; 224: 37–53.
7.
WaltonNSan AndrésL. Measurements of static loading versus eccentricity in a flexure-pivot tilting pad journal bearing. J Tribol1997; 119: 297–304.
8.
San AndrésLde SantiagoO. Imbalance response of a rotor supported on flexure pivot tilting pad journal bearings in series with integral squeeze film dampers. J Eng Gas Turbines Power2003; 125: 1026–1032.
9.
ThomsenKKlitP. Geometrical design parameters for journal bearings with flexure pads. Proc IMechE Part J: J Engineering Tribology. Epub ahead of print. DOI: 10.1177/1350650111431525.
10.
SimmonsJKnoxRMossW. The development of PTFE-faced hydrodynamic thrust bearing for hydrogenerator application in the united kingdom. Proc IMechE Part J: J Engineering Tribology1998; 212: 345–352.
11.
ThomsenKKlitP. A study on compliant layers and its influence on dynamic response of a hydrodynamic journal bearing. Tribol Int2011; 44: 1872–1877.
12.
McIvorJFennerD. Finite element analysis of dynamically loaded flexible journal bearings. J Tribol1989; 111: 597–604.
13.
HuebnerKDewhirstDSmithD. The finite element method for engineers. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2001.
McIvorJ. The analysis of dynamically loaded flexible journal bearings using higher-order finite elements. PhD dissertation. University of London, London, 1988.
16.
SeetonJ. Viscosity-temperature correlation for liquids. Tribol Lett2006; 22: 67–78.
17.
McCarthyDGlavatskihS. Assessment of polymer composites for hydrodynamic journal-bearing applications. Lubr Sci2009; 21(8): 331–341.
