Measurement and Calculation of the Dynamic Operating Characteristics of the Five Shoe, Tilting Pad Journal Bearing

Abstract

This paper presents results from an experimental and theoretical investigation of the dynamic characteristics of the tilting pad journal bearing. The five shoe bearing, of nominal diameter 76.2 mm and Lid ratio 0.75, has been loaded statically “between pads” The dynamic characteristics were measured for shaft speeds of 15, 30, 45 and 60 Hz and for loads that ranged between 1.7 and 4.5 kN. The theoretically derived stiffness and damping coefficients were calculated from a model which accounts for both thermal and elastic effects in the bearing. After the inclusion of shaft flexibility in the analysis of the measured dynamic coefficients, correlation between the experimental and theoretical results was found to be satisfactory.