Shaft Center Orbit in Dynamically Loaded Radial Bearings

The bearing damping coefficients may be utilized to estimate the orbit for a dynamically loaded journal bearing. The classical method for this analysis was developed by Booker [1] in 1965. Several authors have refined this method over the years. In 1966 Jorgen W. Lund [2] published an approach to find the dynamic coefficients of a journal bearing by a first order perturbation of the Reynold’s equation. These coefficients made it possible to perform a rotor-bearing stability analysis for a statically loaded bearing. In the mid seventies Jorgen W. Lund pointed out in lecture notes that the dynamic damping coefficients of the bearing could be used to find the shaft orbit for dynamically loaded bearings. The connection between the “Booker Mobility Method” and the “Lund Damping Coefficient Method” will be explained.