A Class of Maximum Load Capacity Sector Thrust Bearings

Abstract

A finite element method is used to determine the pressure distribution for a sector pad of a thrust bearing. The optimization technique known as pattern search is applied to the load capacity as a function of the pocket boundary and pocket depth. An optimum ratio of effective length to width is discovered and the optimum pocket geometry, associated two dimensional pressure distribution, power dissipation, center of pressure, and maximum load capacity are calculated for bearings of various curvature and degree of arc.