A Finite Element Approach to Pad Flexibility Effects in Tilt Pad Journal Bearings: Part I—Single Pad Analysis

Abstract

A general method of incorporating pad flexibility effects into tilting pad isothermal bearing analysis is developed. The pad assembly approach is extended using 2-dimensional finite elements to determine pad deformations of a single pad. The pad deformations are represented by a single degree of freedom, the change in the pad radius of curvature, thus the current method is an approximate approach. The equations to calculate frequency reduced coefficients for a single pad are presented. Synchronously reduced coefficients for a single pad are in agreement with previous curved beam approximate methods and a more rigorous iterative approach. The finite element pad model provides more versatility in modeling nonuniform pad dimensions and the skewed boundary conditions which occur at the spherical pivot-pad socket interfaces.