DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF TILTING-PAD JOURNAL BEARING - INFLUENCE OF PAD DEFORMATIONS

A theoretical nonlinear analysis of tilting-pad journal bearings is pr esented for small and large unbalance loads under isothermal condition s. The radial displacements of internal pad surface due to pressure fi eld are determined by a two-dimensional finite element method in order to define the actual film thickness. The influence of pad deformation s on the journal orbit, on the minimum film thickness and on the maxim um pressure is studied. The effects of pad displacements are to decrea se the minimum film thickness and to increase the maximum pressure. Th e orbit amplitude is also increased by 20 percent for the large unbala nce load compared to the one obtained for rigid pad.