Comparison of measured and calculated water film thickness of a water-lubricated elastically supported tilting pad thrust bearing

Abstract

A xenon induced fluorescence technique is used to measure the water film thickness of a rubber-supported water-lubricated tilting pad thrust bearing (RWTB). Film thickness maps are obtained over a range of speeds and loads. Based on a Thermo-Elasto-Hydrodynamic lubrication model, the calculated film thickness is compared with the measured one. The measurement shows that the lubrication regime of the RWTB can be observed and it can form a convergent wedge of lubricant. The calculated results are on par with the experimental results at low speed condition (200 r · min−1). Generally, the calculated film thickness is larger and the discrepancy between them increases respecting to the speed. The RWTB is in the hydrodynamic lubrication regime when the speed is over 200 r · min−1 and the load is less than 0.25 MPa. The comparison between the measurements and calculations verifies that the fluorescence technique can be used to measure the film thickness of water-lubricated thrust bearings.