The traditional method for bearing and damper analysis usually involves a development of rather complicated numerical calculation programs that may just focus on a simplified and specific physical model. The application of the general CFD codes may make this analysis available and effective where complex flow geometries are involved or when more detailed solutions are needed. In this study, CFX-TASCflow is employed to simulate various fixed geometry fluid-film bearing and damper designs. Some of the capabilities in CFX-TASCflow are applied to simulate the pressure field and calculate the static and dynamic characteristics of hydrodynamic, hydrostatic, and hybrid bearings as well as squeeze film dampers. The comparison between the CFD analysis and current computer programs used in industry has been made. The results show reasonable agreement in general. Some of the possible reasons for the differences are discussed. It leaves room for further investigation and improvement on the methods of computation.

Issue Section:
Gas Turbines: Structures and Dynamics
Keywords:
hydrodynamics, hydrostatics, machine bearings, computational fluid dynamics, mechanical engineering computing, damping
Topics:
Bearings, Computational fluid dynamics, Hydrostatics, Pressure, Dampers
1.
Pinkus, O., and Sternlicht, B., 1961, Theory of Hydrodynamic Lubrication, McGraw-Hill, New York.
2.
Lund
,
J. W.
,
1964
, “
Spring and Damping Coefficients for the Tilting-Pad Journal Bearing
,”
ASLE Trans.
,
7
(
4
), pp.
342
–
352
.
3.
Nicholas
,
J. C.
,
Gunter
,
E. J.
, and
Allaire
,
P. E.
,
1979
, “
Stiffness and Damping Coefficients for the Five Pad Tilting Pad Bearing
,”
ASLE Trans.
,
22
(
2
), pp.
112
–
124
.
4.
Nicholas, J. C., and Kirk, R. G., 1979, “Selection and Design of Tilting Pad and Fixed Lobe Journal Bearings for Optimum Turbo-Rotor Dynamics,” Proceedings of the 8th Turbo-machinery Symposium, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, pp. 43–58.
5.
Nicholas
,
J. C.
, and
Kirk
,
R. G.
,
1981
, “
Theory and Application of Multi-Pocket Bearings for Optimum Turbo Rotor Stability
,”
ASLE Trans.
,
24
(
2
), pp.
269
–
275
.
6.
San Andres
,
L.
, and
Vance
,
J. M.
,
1986
, “
Effects of Fluid Inertia and Turbulence on the Force Coefficients for Squeeze Film Dampers
,”
ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
,
108
(
2
), pp.
332
–
339
.
7.
Kirk
,
R. G.
,
Raju
,
K. V. S.
, and
Ramesh
,
K.
,
1999
, “
PC-Based Analysis of Turbomachinery Vibration
,”
Shock Vib. Dig.
,
31
(
6
), pp.
449
–
454
.
8.
Chen, W. J., “DyRoBeS_BePerf Version 7.0,” Eigen Technologies, © 1991–2002.
9.
Guo, Z., and Kirk, R. G., 2001, “Analysis of Externally Pressurized Fluid-Film Bearings for High-Speed Rotating Machinery,” Proceedings ISCORMA’01, South Lake Tahoe, California, August 20–24.
10.
AEA Technology, 2001, CFX-TASCflow 2.11.1 Documentation.
Copyright © 2005
 by ASME
You do not currently have access to this content.