Simulation-Based Analysis of Performance Parameters of Thrust Pad Bearing Under Thin Film Lubrication with Chamfered Inlet

Abstract

An elastohydrodynamic numerical simulation of a thrust pad bearing with chamfering at inlet has been studied in this paper. To model the problem, a one-dimensional Reynolds equation along with elastic deformation equation in non-dimensional form has been discretized using finite difference method and solved iteratively by using an improved method. On chamfering at inlet of the bearing pad, a pressure peak gets generated near the inlet zone. This pressure peak, which is absent in non-chamfered pad, ultimately increases the load-carrying capacity of the thrust pad bearing at lower value of film thickness ratios and small film thickness. At large value of film thickness, the load capacity decreases at all film thickness ratios when chamfering is done on the bearing pad. On increasing minimum film thickness, the load capacity and coefficient of friction show more sensitivity at low value of film thickness ratios. At very high value of film thickness ratio, the change in load capacity and coefficient of friction with increasing film thickness ratios become almost negligible.