Effects of Distance Between Pads on the Inlet Pressure Build-Up on Pad Bearings

Abstract

Full Navier-Stokes equations are solved numerically for a cavity region between two consecutive pads and a parallel lubricating film. Numerical solutions are obtained for a wide range of Reynolds number and various values of a distance between pads. Numerical results show that the inlet pressure build-up is significantly affected by Reynolds number and the distance between two adjacent pads. A new formula is derived of loss coefficient with Reynolds number and a distance factor, for using it in an extended Bernoulli equation, on the basis of numerical results. Experiments are conducted to investigate the validity of the formula of loss coefficient proposed by authors.