A Fully Coupled 3D Finite Element Analysis for a Bump-Type Compliant Foil Bearing

A bump-type foil bearing consists of a compliant corrugated sheet metal supporting structure that is covered by a thin top foil surface. Bumps serve as stiffener and damping elements to increase the stability of the system while top foil creates necessary wedge surface for aerodynamic film formation. Foil bearings are hard to analyze as flexible foil surface deforms and changes shape while aerodynamic film pressure forms. Fully coupled finite element approach is presented. To increase the accuracy, the geometry is discretized with quadratic hexagonal elements. The gas film is modeled by compressible Reynolds equation. The effect of velocity on load capacity will be investigated to reveal the performance of the code.