A Thermohydrodynamic Solution of Pivoted Thrust Pads: Part I—Theory

Abstract

The object is construction of a thermohydrodynamic theory of thrust bearings. The bearing pad has the geometry of an annular sector and is supported in one point; about this point it is free to pivot. The film shape is arbitrary, thus permitting specification of thermal-elastic deformation and/or crowning of the pad. The lubricant which is interposed between bearing pad and runner has temperature dependent viscosity. The lubricant flow may be laminar or turbulent. The numerical method employed in this work is the method of Finite Differences for the pressure equation and Galerkin’s method with B-spline test functions for the energy equation.