Foil Micro-Bearing Tests

Abstract

Selected methods of testing applied in the research centres dealing with foil bearings technology are overviewed in this paper. Tests analyzing foil bearings require special test rigs and a testing methodology that simulates the bearings’ actual working conditions. Test rigs should allow factors, that influence on a bearing’s exact operating environment. For this reason, most tests investigate selected key parameters Tribological tests under extreme bearing operating temperatures and with the effect of lubricants make a separate group of tests. Another tests group is focused on the optimal bearing stiffness determination through the choice of adequate structural solutions and manufacturing technologies. Foil bearing test methods presented in this paper do not exhaust the study domain, in which new constructions may be tested. They only overview basic test methods used for the foil bearing systems.