Performance of Elastic, Centrally Pivoted, Sector, Thrust-Bearing Pads—Part I

Abstract

This is the first of three papers on the results of a recently completed study of the performance of tilting pad thrust bearings. It describes a method of analysis that was worked out for these bearings, which includes viscosity variations in the fluid film and an approximate calculation of the pad deflections caused by the hydrodynamic pressures. Equilibrium of moments is satisfied, laminar and adiabatic conditions are assumed, and the lubricant is incompressible. The two subsequent papers of this series will describe: (a) The results of an analysis which includes a more rigorous determination of pad deflections caused by hydrodynamic pressures and thermal gradients. (b) A comparison of analytical results with experimental data obtained in full-scale bearing tests.