Analysis of Middle Bearing Failure in Rotor Jet Engine Using Tip-Timing and Tip-Clearance Technique

The reported problem is the failure of the middle bearing in an aircraft rotor engine. Tip-timing and tip-clearance and variance analyses are carried out on a compressor rotor blade in the seventh stage above the middle bearing. The experimental analyses concern both an aircraft engine with a middle bearing in good working order and an engine with a damaged middle bearing. A numerical analysis of the seventh stage blade free vibration are conducted to explain the experimental results. This appears to be an effective method of predicting middle bearing failure. The blade vibration variance increases when there is bearing failure.© 2014 ASME