EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF HIGH-SPEED ROTORS IN NOVEL FLUID FILM BEARINGS

Abstract

The present work numerically and experimentally investigates the impact of bearing misalignment on the rotor-bearing system instability. Mathematical models for all novel misaligned bearings are well elaborated. These models are then numerically solved using a finite element C++ bearings program. When simulations are performed, oil pressure and film thickness distribution are plotted and discussed for these bearings. Consequently, different rotors supported on these novel bearings are numerically tested using a finite element C++ rotordynamics program. Misaligned bearings are then designed and manufactured according to the simulations results. These novel bearings are further tested on a 60k rotating shaft test rig. Upon testing these bearings, the oil whip instability threshold is considerably postponed. These results are motive to introduce misaligned bearings in the