Influence of Axial Thrust Bearing on the Dynamic Behavior of an Elastic Shaft: Coupling Between the Axial Dynamic Behavior and the Bending Vibrations of a Flexible Shaft

Abstract

This paper presents the nonlinear dynamic behavior of a flexible shaft. The shaft is mounted in two journal bearings and the axial load is supported by a hydrodynamic thrust bearing. The coupling between the axial thrust bearing behavior and the bending vibrations of the shaft is studied in particular. The shaft is modeled with typical beam finite elements. The dynamic behaviors of the fluid supports are considered as nonlinear. The dynamic behavior is analyzed using an unsteady time integration procedure. The paper shows the coupling between the axial dynamic behavior and the bending vibrations of the shaft.