Numerical Modelization of the Oil Film Pressure for a Hydrodynamic Tilting-Pad Thrust Bearing

Abstract

This study analyses the hydrodynamic characteristic of the tilting pad thrust bearing. [cite: 2] Research content is simultaneously solving the Reynolds equation, force equilibrium equation, and momentum equilibrium equations. [cite: 3] Reynolds equation is solved by utilizing the finite element method with Galerkin weighted residual, thereby determines the pressure at each discrete node of the film. [cite: 4] Force and momentums are integrated from pressure nodes by Gaussian integral. [cite: 5] Finally, force and momentum equilibrium equations are solved using Newton-Raphson iterative to achieve film thickness and inclination angles of the pad at the equilibrium position. [cite: 6] The results yielded the film thickness, the pressure distribution on the whole pad and different sections of the bearing respected to the radial direction. [cite: 7] The high-pressure zone is located at the low film thickness zone and near the pivot location. [cite: 8]