Dynamic Experimental Research of PTFE-Faced Pad Thrust Bearings

Abstract

Non-metallic thrust bearings are widely used in industry. In comparison to Babbitt, non-metallic materials have many advantages, for example higher temperature resistance, higher thrust load, reduction of the power loss, using a smaller bearing size and so on. This article mainly describes the dynamic characteristics measurement of PTFE-faced pad thrust bearing. Under different applied loads, rotating speeds and exciting frequencies, the dynamic characteristics of PTFE-faced pad thrust bearing are tested. The same experimental condition is also tested for the Babbitt-faced pad thrust bearing as comparison. The experimental results indicate that PTFE-faced pad thrust bearings have lower stiffness and damping coefficients than Babbitt-faced pad bearings. And under the same experimental operating condition, the stiffness and damping coefficient variation trends of PTFE-faced and Babbitt-faced thrust bearings are similar.