EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF SECTOR-SHAPED HYDRODYNAMIC THRUST-BEARINGSUNDER TRANSLATION AND TRANSVERSE VIBRATION

The bearing load of a plane inclined sector-shaped hydrodynamic thrust bearing, under simultaneous translation and transverse vibration, is measured experimentally. The results are used to evaluate the lubricat ion theory solutions. Consequently, both the influences of the unstead y film inertia, measured by the squeeze Reynolds number Re(s), and the connective film inertia, measured by the modified Reynolds number Re , on load amplitude and phase are investigated. It is found that the i nertia-neglected lubrication solutions underestimate: (1) the oscillat ory component of the bearing load by 6.5 percent at Re(s) = 1.0 and by 1.4 percent at Re = 1.0, and (2) the mean component of the bearing l oad by 0.7 percent at Re(s) = 1.0 and by 2.0 percent at Re = 1.0. Mor eover, the fluid inertia induces an equivalent negative spring force c omponent which shifts the phase of the bearing load by 9.5 deg at Re(s ) = 1.0 and by 4 deg at Re = 1.0 as compared to the lubrication theor y predictions. Hence it can be an important consideration when designi ng bearings for vibration control purposes.