Theoretical and Experimental Investigations on Directly Lubricated Tilting Pad Journal Bearing under Starved Lubrication

Abstract

In this study, a comprehensive thermoelastohydrodynamic model considering turbulence and cavitation is developed. After comparing the Reynolds-Rayleigh-Plesset and Elrod and Adams models, the Elrod and Adams model is adopted to consider cavitation effects. To validate the developed model, a series of novel two-phase flow or mixed bubble experiments is designed by extracting the characteristics of actual operating conditions. Experiments are performed on a high-speed test rig. The oil film pressure and pad surface temperature of a loaded pad under various preset gas volume fractions are measured. The experimental and simulation results show reasonable agreement, and the developed model can successfully predict the bearing performance under starved conditions.