Abstract
Thrust bearings play a vital role in propulsion systems. They rely on a thin layer of oil being trapped between rotating surfaces to produce a low friction interface. The “quality” of this bearing affects many things from noise transmission to the ultimate catastrophic failure of the bearing itself. As a result, the direct measure of the forces and vibrations within the oil filled interface would be very desirable and would give an indication of the condition of the bearing in situ. The thickness of the oil film is, however, very small and conventional vibration sensors are too cumbersome to use in this confined space. This paper solves this problem by using a piezoelectric polymer film made from Polyvinylidine Fluoride (PVDF). These films are very thin (50 μm) and flexible and easy to install in awkward spaces such as the inside of a thrust bearing. A model thrust bearing was constructed using a 3D printer and PVDF films inserted into the base of the bearing. In doing so, it was possible to directly measure the force fluctuations due to the rotating pads and investigate various properties of the thrust bearing itself.
Highlights
Thrust bearings are an important component in many mechanical systems
The tilted pad thrust bearing, developed by Michell and Kingsbury [1] more than 100 years ago, in its simplest form is comprised of pads at a fixed angle
The authors of this paper have previously published preliminary results of using Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) sensors in rotating bearings [16]; a detailed analysis and mathematical model of the contact force were missing. This paper addresses this by introducing a mathematical model that describes the interaction between the thrust bearing pads and oil, and this model is used to characterise some of the features seen in the signature obtained
Summary
Thrust bearings are an important component in many mechanical systems. They permit rotational motion under axial force while trying to minimize friction. There are several different types of thrust bearings such as cylindrical thrust bearings, magnetic thrust bearings and fluid filled thrust bearings. The tilted pad thrust bearing, developed by Michell and Kingsbury [1] more than 100 years ago, in its simplest form is comprised of pads at a fixed angle. More sophisticated designs allow the pads to automatically adjust their angle to suit the operating conditions. Regardless of the bearing type, fluid filled bearings all rely on the axial load being supported by a thin layer of oil
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