Performance Tests of Five-Shoe Tilting-Pad Journal Bearing

An experimental program was conducted to measure film temperature in all the pads of a 127-mm (5-inch) diameter five-shoe tilting-pad journal bearing, load-between-pad configuration. Film temperature measurements were taken both in the circumferential and axial directions of the pads at different speeds, loads, and flows. The tests were conducted in speeds ranging from 3000 to 13 000 rpm, unit bearing load range of 34.5 × 104 to 172.4 × 104 N/m2 (50 to 250 psi) and at flows of 0.177, 0.252 and 0.379 L/s (2.8, 4.0, and 6.0 gpm). The actual power losses have also been compared to the theoretical power losses. Results of these tests are presented in this paper. Presented at the 38th Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas, April 24–28, 1983