Analysis of Journal Bearing and Validation of Experimental Test Rig

Abstract

Hydrodynamic bearings are presenting a large and deep research domain with an overall lack of investigation in the case of vertically mounted ones which complicates their applicability. These bearings are characterised by a complex behaviour as a self-excited instability known as oil whip which is a major concern of Sulzer Ensival Moret Belgium, a well-known pump manufacturer. This topic introduced the design of a tribological test rig for the experimental analysis of hydrodynamic bearings. The work objectives are the experimental analysis of hydrodynamic bearings based on their respective dynamic behaviour and the related validation of the test rig in terms of its validity for the dynamic analysis. To achieve both objectives, the work is divided in a theoretical and experimental part. The theoretical part treats the general bearing theory including so-called experimental identification techniques. The second part treats the experimental dynamic analysis of different bearings based on their respective whirl motion and the extraction of the stiffness coefficients from conducted measurements. At the other side, this part treats the validation of the test rig.