Abstract
A range of tests on simple radially grooved thrust washers is reported in which the number of grooves is varied from two to six. The mode of action by free thermal distortion is confirmed, the minimum film thickness occurring at 0·6–0·8 of the pad length. A degree of random waviness is shown to be beneficial, although it is likely that only half of the bearing circumferential length contributes to load carrying. The optimum number of pads appears to be four. The authors explore the use of multiple regression analysis in the design of such bearings. If several effects interact in the usual design process, it is shown that this technique can often give the direct influence of each design parameter separately without the need for iteration.
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