Flow in a Whirling Rotor Bearing

Abstract

We examine the flow in the annular region between two infinitely long parallel circular cylinders when the axis of the inner cylinder travels in a circular whirl orbit about the axis of the outer cylinder. One or both of the cylinders rotate with constant angular velocity. The analysis is restricted to small values of both clearance ratio and modified Reynolds number. Corrections for curvature and inertia effects are included using an expansion in terms of the above parameters. The resultant forces exerted by the fluid on the cylinders are calculated for the cases when the bearing clearance is completely filled with lubricant and also when cavitation occurs.