Computational Model for

Tilting Pad Journal

Bearings
Yujiao Tao
Research Assistant
Dr. Luis San Andres
Mast-Childs Professor
TRC project 2010-2011

TRC 32514/15196B/ME
START DATE: September 1, 2010
Justification and Objective

Journal
Pad
Pivot
O
e
Rotor speed
Fluid film
W, static
load
The accurate prediction of tilting pad journal
bearing (TPJB) static and dynamic forced
performance is vital to the successful design
and operation of high-speed rotating
machinery.

Pivot flexibility reduces bearing force
coefficients for operation with heavy loads.
XLTRC
2
TFPBRG code shows poor predictions
for dynamic force coefficients when compared
to test data.
Research objective:
To develop an advanced computational program, benchmarked by test
data, to predict the static and dynamic forced performance of modern
TPJBs accounting for thermal effects and the (nonlinear) effects of pivot
flexibility.
Work to date
(a) Reviewed literature on TPJBs

(b) Developed analysis for effect of pivot
flexibility on TPJBs load response.

(c) Took XLPRESSDAM code and began
modifications

(d) Obtained initial predictions for a near-rigid
TPJB
Comprehensive
table summing
46 papers
Literature review
Reviewed 46 papers on TPJBs (1964-2011) and
prepared a table that includes analysis methods,
test methods and force coefficient identification,
lubricant feeding arrangements, etc.
Reviewed oil feed arrangements and other
conditions to improve TPJBs performance.
Views of leading edge groove in TPJB (Ball,
J. H., and Byrne, T. R., 1998)

Single externally adjustable pad
fluid film bearing (Shenoy B. S. and
Pai R.2009)
Literature review
46 papers on TPJBs (1964-2011)

Literature review


46 papers on TPJBs (1964-2011)

Work to date
(a) Reviewed literature on TPJBs

(b) Developed analysis for effect of pivot
flexibility on force coefficients of
TPJBs.

(c) Took XLPRESSDAM code and began
modifications


(d) Obtained initial predictions for near-rigid
TPJB
Physical
model and
equations
follow
Major assumptions:
Laminar flow
Includes temporal fluid inertia
effects
Average viscosity across the
film

3 3 2 2
2 2
1
12 12 2 12
J
h P h P h h h h
R z z t t

u u u
c c c c c O c c
+ = + +
` `
c c c c c c c
) )
On k
th
pad
h

: fluid film thickness P

: hydrodynamic pressure
: lubricant viscosity O : journal speed
R
J
: journal radius

Journal
Pad
Pivot
O
e
Rotor speed
Fluid film
W, static
load
Reynolds equation for thin film bearing
Thermal energy transport in thin film flows
Nomenclature
T: film temperature
h : film thickness
U,W: circ. & axial flow velocities
, , C
v
: viscosity & density, specific heat
h
B
, h
J
: heat convection coefficients
T
B
, T
J

: bearing and journal temperatures
O : journal speed




Major
assumptions:
Neglect temperature
variations across-
film. Use bulk-flow
velocities and
temperature
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2
2 2
2
12
12 2
v B B J J
C U h T W h T h T T h T T
R z
R R
W U
h

( c c
+ + +
(
cO c

| |
O O
(
= + + +
|
(
|

\ .
CONVECTION + DIFFUSION= DISSIPATION
(Energy Disposed) = (Energy Generated)
} } }
= = =
h h h
dy T
h
T dy W
h
W dy U
h
U
0 0 0
;
~ 1
;
~ 1
;
~ 1
q
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
cos sin cos sin
p X Y piv p p piv d p p
h C e e r R u u u u q o u u = + + + +
Film thickness in a pad
{ } ( )
{ } ( )
cos
sin
p piv p p
piv d p p
h C r e
R e

q
u u
q o u u
= +
+
C
p
: Pad radial clearance
R
d
= R
p
+t : pad thickness
r
p
: pad dimensional preload
o
p
:

pad tilt angle

piv
, q
piv
: pivot radial and
transverse deflections



Y

p

h
e
W
X

Pivot
Fluid film
Journal
O
B

R
P

W
Y

O
P

O

X
P
O
P

piv

q
piv

o
p

X
Y
q

P
Pad
Journal static equilibrium in a TPJB
0 0
0
0 0
0
1
pad
X
Y
k
N
X X
k
k
Y Y
F W F
W F
F
=
(
( (
(
= =
( (
(
( (

( )
sin cos
d X p Y p d
M R F F R F
o q
u u = + =
Fluid film moment on pad

( )
( )
0
0
2
0
2
cos
sin
k
t
k
l
L
k
k
p
X
k
J
k
k
L
Y
p
F
P R d dz
F
u
u
u
u
u

(

= (
`
(


)
} }
k=1,Npad
j
F

j
F
q
F
q
F

M
o
Journal
X
Y
Pad
W
Y

W
X

q


p
u
piv
F

piv
F
q
P
P
p
o
X
Y
q

O
p

p piv
pad piv piv
piv piv
M M
F F
F F
o o

q q
o

q
( ( (
( ( (
( = +
( ( (
( ( (

M
Pad equations of motion
about pivot point P
is pad mass matrix
pad
(

M
Perturbation analysis
Consider small journal motion perturbations
with frequency (e) about the equilibrium
position , the journal displacements are:

0
0
( )
( )
X
X X i t
Y Y Y
e
e t e
e
e t e e
e
(
A
( (
= +
(
( (
A
(

Journal motions induce changes in the
rotation (o) of the k
th
pad and its pivot
displacements (,,q) with the same
frequency (e)

0
0
0
( )
( )
( )
p
p p
i t
piv piv piv
piv piv
piv
t
t e
t
e
o
o o

q q
q
(
( ( A
(
( (
= + A
(
( (
(
( (
A
(

And, journal and pad motions induce
changes in the film thickness and pressure
fields

{ }
{ }
0
0
( )
( )
piv piv
piv piv
i t
X X Y Y p piv piv
i t
X X Y Y p piv piv
h t h h e h e h h h e
P t P P e P e P P P e
e
o q
e
o q
o q
o q
= + A + A + A + A + A
= + A + A + A + A + A
Reduced force coefficients
25 force impedances for the k
th
pad
1
2 R R
R R
XX XY
R XY a s pad c b
YX YY
Z Z
Z Z
e

(
(
= = +
(

(

Z Z Z Z M Z Z
XX XY
XY
YX YY
Z Z
Z Z
(
=
(

Z
X X X
a
Y Y Y
Z Z Z
Z Z Z
o q
o q
(
=
(

Z
X Y
b X Y
X Y
Z Z
Z Z
Z Z
o o

q q
(
(
=
(
(

Z
c
Z Z Z
Z Z Z
Z Z Z
oo o oq
o q
qo q qq
(
(
=
(
(

Z
/ 2
/ 2
l
l
L
L
Z P h Rd dz
u u
o| | o
u
u
+

=
} }
o, |=X, Y, , q, o
The reduced force impedances are
s s s
s s s s
s s s
Z Z Z
Z Z Z
Z Z Z
oo o oq
o q
qo q qq
(
(
=
(
(

Z
Reduced force coefficients (in pad coordinates)
Alternatively, reduced impedances (ZR) are also
obtained in pad local coordinates.
s s s
s s s s
s s s
Z Z Z
Z Z Z
Z Z Z
oo o oq
o q
qo q qq
(
(
=
(
(

Z
1
2
R JP s pad P PJ
e

(
= +

Z Z Z Z M Z Z
, , o | q =
2
d d d
P d c
d
Z R Z R Z R Z Z Z
Z R Z Z Z Z Z
Z R Z Z Z Z Z
qq q qq oo o oq
q q o q
qq q qq qo q qq
( (
( (
= = =
( (
( (

Z Z
d d
PJ
Z R Z R
Z Z
Z Z
q qq
q
q qq
(
(
=
(
(

Z
d
JP
d
Z R Z Z
Z R Z Z
q q
qq q qq

(
=
(

Z
Z Z
Z Z
q
q qq
(
=
(

Z
According to the perturbation analysis, the reduced
impedances obtained by two methods are identical:
X
Y
q

R
=
T
R
Z AZ A
Work to date
(a) Reviewed literature on TPJBs

(b) Developed analysis for effect of pivot
flexibility on force coefficients of TPJBs.

(c) Took XLPRESSDAM code and began
modifications


(d) Obtained initial predictions for near-rigid
TPJB
Fortran
program and
Excel GUI
Modified Fortran program and Excel GUI
Uses finite element method to solve Reynolds equation
(hydrodynamic pressure)

Uses control volume method to solve energy transport
equation

Program updated for ideal TPJB with pivot flexibility. At
this time, it works only for a near-rigid pivot (Difficulties
in convergence).
Work to date
(a) Reviewed literature on TPJBs

(b) Developed analysis for effect of pivot
flexibility on force coefficients of TPJBs.

(c) Took XLPRESSDAM code and began
modifications


(d) Obtained initial predictions for near-
rigid TPJB
Comparison
with other
predictions
and some
experimental
results
Predictions for a (near rigid) TPJB bearing
*Someya, T., 1988, Journal-Bearing Databook, Springer-Verlag, Berlin , pp. 227-229.
Number of Pads, N 5
Configuration Load on Pad
L/D 0.5
Dimensionless Preload , r
p
0.5
Pad Arc Angle, O
p
60
Rotor Diameter, D 0.06 m (2.36 inch)
Bearing Axial Length, L 0.03 m (1.18 inch)
Pad radial Clearance, C
p
120 m (0.004724 inch)
Lubricant Viscosity,
0
0.028 Pa.s
Rotor Speed 6000 rpm
Offset 0.5
(Someya*) Five pad, tilting pad bearing (LOP)
Isothermal flow, isoviscous
Synchronous speed reduced force
coefficients
1
RIGID pivot (Someyas data)
2
RIGID pivot (My code)
3
Pivot stiffness Kp =3 GN/m (almost rigid)
Comparison of results for
W
Y
X
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.01 0.1 1 10
Sommerfeld number
E
c
c
e
n
t
r
i
c
i
t
y



d

d
Someya's
rigid pivot
near rigid pivot
Predictions for static load versus journal eccentricity
p
e
C
c =
2
p
LD R
S
W C

| |
O
=
|
|
\ .
TPJB model with flexible pivot predicts a larger eccentricity than that with rigid
pivot, especially at heavy loads (small S).
W
Y
X
Near rigid pivot
Rigid pivot
Predicted stiffness coefficients
10
100
1000
10000
0.01 0.1 1 10
Sommerfeld number
S
t
i
f
f
n
e
s
s

K
x
x

(
M
N
/
m
)







c
c

c
Someya's
rigid pivot
near rigid pivot
Near rigid pivot
Rigid pivot K
XX
K
YY
W
Y
X
1
10
100
0.01 0.1 1 10
Sommerfeld number
S
t
i
f
f
n
e
s
s

K
y
y

(
M
N
/
m
)


c





c
c
Kyy (Someya's)
Kyy (rigid pivot)
Kyy (Near rigid pivot)
Rigid pivot
Near rigid pivot
Pivot flexibility lowers the
direct stiffness coefficient
KXX (along load direction),
in particular for large
loads.
K
P
10
100
1000
10000
0.01 0.1 1 10
Sommerfeld number
D
a
m
p
i
n
g

C
x
x

(
k
N
.
s
/
m
)







c
c
c
Cxx (Someya's)
Cxx (rigid pivot)
Cxx (Near rigid pivot)
Near rigid pivot
Rigid pivot
10
100
1000
10000
0.01 0.1 1 10
Sommerfeld number
D
a
m
p
i
n
g

C
y
y

(
k
N
.
s
/
m
)







c
c
c
Cyy (Someya's)
Cyy (rigid pivot)
Cyy (Near rigid pivot)
Rigid pivot
Near rigid pivot
Predicted damping coefficients
C
XX
C
YY
W
Y
X
Pivot flexibility lowers the
direct damping coefficient
CXX (along load direction),
in particular for large
loads.
Comparison with recent test data
Number of Pads, N 5
Load Configuration Load on Pad
Pad Arc Angle, O
P
60
Offset 0.5
Rotor Diameter, D 101.59mm (4.0 in)
Bearing Axial Length, L 55.88 mm (2.20 in)
Pad Radial Clearance, C
P
120.65 m (4.75 mil)
Bearing Radial Clearance, C
b
68 m (2.67mil)
Bearing Preload, 0.44
Pad Mass, m
p
0.44kg (0.97 lb)
Pad Inertia, I
G
2.49 kg-cm
2
( 0.851 lb-in
2
)
Pad thickness, t 19.05mm (3.228inch)
Bearing pivot stiffness, K
p
nonlinear, ~0.5GN/m
Bearing Lubricant DTE 797, ISO VG-32
Wilkes* five pad, rocker-back pivot, tilting pad bearing (LOP)
*Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2011, Paper No. GT2011-46510
p
r
Operating condition
Journal speed : 4,400 rpm
Unit load: 1566 kPa (227 psi)
Lubricant supply temperature :25
o
C
Used pivot stiffness:
Pivot radial stiffness: 2 GN/m
W
Y
X
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
0 100 200 300
Excitation frequency (Hz)
R
e
a
l

p
a
r
t

o
f

t
h
e

i
m
p
e
d
a
n
c
e
s





(
M
N
/
m
)
c

Re (Zxx)-prediction
Re (Zyy)-prediction
Re (Zxx)-measurement
Re (Zyy)-measurement
M
N
/
m


d
Predicted & Test impedances versus frequency
Measured Predicted
X 0.009 0.006
Y -0.381 -0.306
Dimensionless
Eccentricity
K-C model:
Z=K +iC
Stiffness: K=Re (Z)
Damping:C=Im (Z)/
W
Y
X
Real part of impedances
Re (Z
YY
)-prediction
Re (Z
YY
)-measurement
Re (Z
XX
)-measurement
Re (Z
XX
)-prediction
Dynamic
stiffness KYY
over predicted

-100
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
0 100 200 300
I
m
a
g
i
n
a
r
y

p
a
r
t

o
f

t
h
e

i
m
p
e
d
a
n
c
e
s


M
N
/
m



























Excitation frequency (Hz)
Im (Zxx)-prediction
Im (Zyy)-prediction
Im (Zxx)-measurement
Im (Zyy)-measurement
Predicted & Test impedances versus frequency
Imaginary part of impedances
W
Y
X
Im (Z
YY
)-measurement
Im (Z
YY
)-prediction
Im (Z
XX
)-measurement
Im (Z
XX
)-prediction
Both damping
coefficients are
underpredicted.
Conclusions
Updated XLTRC
2
XLPRESSDAM code works for TPJBs with a
near rigid pivot stiffness
Predictions agree with published predictions for ideal, rigid
pivot, TPJB.
Comparisons with recent TPJB impedance data vs
frequency, show damping coefficients are largely
underpredicted while the off-load stiffness coefficients is
over predicted. Test results at odds with prior test data.
Current code used pivot stiffness ~ 4 times magnitude of
that in test bearing.
Proposed work for 2
nd
year
1.Complete analysis of reduced frequency force coefficients for TPJBs for
NONLINEAR pivot stiffness depending on the type of contact.

2. Derivation of iterative search scheme to update the pad radial and
transverse deformations and ensure reliable convergence to an
equilibrium solution.

3. Implementation of various oil feed arrangements in the FE model to
model TPJBs with leading edge groove supply systems and scrapers.

4. Comparison of predictions from the enhanced TPJB code to test data
for various bearing geometries tested by Childs and students and
preparation of a technical report (MS. Thesis).
TRC Budget
Year II
Support for graduate student (20 h/week) x $ 1,800 x 12 months $ 21,600
Fringe benefits (0.6%) and medical insurance ($191/month) $ 2,419
Travel to (US) technical conference $ 1,200
Tuition three semesters ($3,802 x 9 ch) $ 10,132
Office (PC & HD storage) $ 200
(2011-12) Year II $ 35,558
(2010-11) Year I $ 34,863
End product (code) will enable TRC members to model
modern TPB configurations and to improve predictions of
dynamic forced response (K-C-M model)
Code for Tilting Pad Bearings
Questions (?)