Experimental study of the transient thermal effect and the oil film thickness of the equalizing thrust bearing in the process of start-stop with load

Abstract

It was important to note the load could not be distributed equally over the thrust pads when the thrust bearing was in operation, especially at the stage of start-up and stop with load. An experimental study that investigated the transient thermal effect and the oil film thickness of the equalizing thrust bearing in the process of start-stop with load was presented in this article. Four static loads and three supplied oil pressures were used in this study. The transient thermal effect and the oil film thickness were simultaneously obtained from a horizontal thrust-bearing test rig. It was shown in experimental results that the transient thermal effect and the oil film thickness varied rapidly at the stage of start-up and stop, and had an unobvious variance when the rotational speed was constant. The structure of the equalizing thrust bearing allowed it to work well at the stage of start-up and stop with load.