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Stiffness and damping coefficients for journal bearing using the 3D transient flow calculation

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Abstract

The dynamic coefficients of journal bearing are necessary components in the analysis of linear stability and response of rotating dynamic systems. We propose a new method for the numerical identification of bearing support force coefficients in flexible rotor-bearing systems based on the 3D transient flow calculation. The CFD commercial software FLUENT is mainly used in this simulation, which employs a finite volume method for the discretization of the Navier-Stokes equations. To determine the dynamic coefficients, a new mesh movement approach is presented to update the volume mesh when the journal moves during the 3D transient flow calculation of a journal bearing. Existing dynamic mesh models provided by FLUENT are not suitable for the transient oil flow in journal bearings. Measurements and identification are performed on a test rotor supported on a pair of identical two-lobe fluid film bearings, and the results obtained from the CFD methods agree well with experimental results. The results indicate that the methods proposed in this paper can predict the dynamic coefficients of the journal bearing in a rotor-bearing system effectively, and provide a further tool for stability analysis.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, 266580, China

    Qiang Li, Shuo Zhang & Long Ma

  2. College of Transport & Storage and Civil Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, 266580, China

    Weiwei Xu

  3. Institute of Chemical Machinery, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China

    Shuiying Zheng

Authors
  1. Qiang Li
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  2. Shuo Zhang
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  3. Long Ma
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  4. Weiwei Xu
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  5. Shuiying Zheng
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Correspondence to Qiang Li.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Cheolung Cheong

Qiang Li received his Ph.D. at Zhejiang University. He is currently an Associate Professor at China University of Petroleum (East China). His research interests include rotor dynamics, fluid structure interaction.

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Li, Q., Zhang, S., Ma, L. et al. Stiffness and damping coefficients for journal bearing using the 3D transient flow calculation. J Mech Sci Technol 31, 2083–2091 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-0405-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-0405-9

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