Aerostatic & Aerodynamic Performance of a Herringbone Thrust Bearing: Analysis and Comparisons to Static Load Experiments

Abstract

The combined effects of external pressurization and herringbone grooves are studied according to the incompressible Whipple analysis; results are examined in terms of nondimensional parameters that bring out the interaction between the action of herringbone groove self-pressurization and external pressurization through orifices. It is found that interaction is beneficial in a wide range of rotational speeds. An optimized interacting design can improve the bearing stiffness and load-carrying capacity. The herringbone grooves add to bearing stiffness and load-carrying capacity even in stationary state (rotation speed is zero) and in steady state the action of herringbone groove self-pressurization further promotes bearing performance with negligible effect on orifice pressure ratio. The orifice flow tends to be saturated ahead because of the spiral grooves in the stationary state and their herringbone self-pressurization has negligible effects on flow rate in the steady state. Herringbone grooving is found to be the preferred configuration considering the bearing stiffness, air flow, and orifice pressure ratio. These predicted trends are qualitatively substantiated by tests.

KEY WORDS:

• Air Bearings
• Film Geometry
• Aerostatic Bearings
• Aerodynamic Bearings
• Thrust Bearings

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors acknowledge the support of the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang, China, ZJG0706-02 and F200602, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, 60875067.

Review led by Waldek Dmochowski