Study on Improvement of Stability of Noncircular Journal Bearings(Stability Analysis for Various Bearing Orientation Angles)

Abstract

Noncircular journal bearings, such as multi-lobe, offset, stepped bearings are used widely for supporting the high speed rotating machinery because of their advantages of relatively low manufacturing costs, stability, load carrying capacity and durability as compared with fullcircular bearings. The stability of noncircular journal bearings are influenced by many bearing parameters such as clearance, preload factor, length-to-diameter ratio, feed hole location etc. However, it is not clear the effects of bearing orientation angle, which is equivalent to the location of applied load line, on the stability of hearings. In this study, the effects of bearing orientation angle on the stability of rotating shaft supported symmetrically by the noncircular bearings are examined theoretically.