A new dynamic mesh algorithm for studying the 3D transient flow field of tilting pad journal bearings

A new dynamic mesh algorithm is developed in this paper to realize the three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method for studying the small clearance transient flow field of tilting pad journal bearings (TPJBs). It is based on a structured grid, ensuring that the total number and the topology relationship of the grid nodes remain unchanged during the dynamic mesh updating process. The displacements of the grid nodes can be precisely recalculated at every time step. The updated mesh maintains high quality and is suitable for transient calculation of large journal displacement in FLUENT. The calculation results, such as the static equilibrium position and the dynamic characteristic coefficients, are consistent with the two-dimensional (2D) solution of the Reynolds equation. Furthermore, in the process of transient analysis, under conditions in which the journal is away from the static equilibrium position, evident differences appear between linearized and transient oil film forces, indicating that the nonlinear transient calculation is more suitable for studying the rotor-bearing system.

[1]  Michael M. Khonsari,et al.  CFD Based Design Techniques for Thermal Prediction in a Generic Two-Axial Groove Hydrodynamic Journal Bearing , 1997 .

[2]  Bengt Jakobsson,et al.  The finite journal bearing, considering vaporization (Das Gleitlager von endlicher Breite mit Verdampfung) , 1957 .

[3]  Lloyd E. Barrett,et al.  Measured Performance of Tilting-Pad Journal Bearings over a Range of Preloads—Part II: Dynamic Operating Conditions , 2004 .

[4]  A. K. Singhal,et al.  Mathematical Basis and Validation of the Full Cavitation Model , 2002 .

[5]  Pantelis G. Nikolakopoulos,et al.  CFD analysis of journal bearing hydrodynamic lubrication by Bingham lubricant , 2008 .

[6]  C. Rajalingham,et al.  The steady state performance of a hydrodynamic journal bearing with a non-newtonian lubricant , 1979 .

[7]  J. Glienicke,et al.  Paper 13: Experimental Investigation of the Stiffness and Damping Coefficients of Turbine Bearings and Their Application to Instability Prediction: , 1966 .

[8]  Jean Frene,et al.  Comparison between three turbulent models : application to thermohydrodynamic performances of tilting-pad journal bearings , 1996 .

[9]  M. Fillon,et al.  Numerical Study of the Sensitivity of Tilting-Pad Journal Bearing Performance Characteristics to Manufacturing Tolerances: Dynamic Analysis , 2008 .

[10]  G. J. Jones,et al.  Geometry Effects in Tilting-Pad Journal Bearings , 1979 .

[11]  Qiang Li,et al.  Application of computational fluid dynamics and fluid structure interaction techniques for calculating the 3D transient flow of journal bearings coupled with rotor systems , 2012 .

[12]  Pierre Podevin,et al.  CFD model for turbocharger journal bearing performances , 2011 .

[13]  Lloyd E. Barrett,et al.  Influence of Journal Speed and Load on the Static Operating Characteristics of a Tilting-Pad Journal Bearing with Ball-and-Socket Pivots , 2005 .

[14]  Lloyd E. Barrett,et al.  Measured Performance of Tilting-Pad Journal Bearings over a Range of Preloads—Part I: Static Operating Conditions , 2004 .

[15]  Lloyd E. Barrett,et al.  Influence of Pad Pivot Friction on Tilting-Pad Journal Bearing Measurements—Part I: Steady Operating Position© , 1999 .

[16]  Tsuneo Someya,et al.  Journal-Bearing Databook , 1989 .

[17]  Rodrigo Pascual,et al.  Identification of nonlinear dynamic coefficients in plain journal bearings , 2008 .

[18]  Chun-wei Gu,et al.  Development and Validation of a Three-Dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis for Journal Bearings Considering Cavitation and Conjugate Heat Transfer , 2015 .

[19]  C. F. Scheffey.  Application of Digital Computers to Bridge Design , 1957 .

[20]  J. W. Lund,et al.  ATTENUATION OF BEARING TRANSMITTED NOISE. VOLUME I. SPRING AND DAMPING COEFFICIENTS FOR THE TILTING-PAD JOURNAL BEARING , 1964 .

[21]  Lloyd E. Barrett,et al.  Influence of pad pivot friction on tilting-pad journal bearing measurements-Part II : Dynamic coefficients , 1999 .

[22]  Rui Deng,et al.  Investigation on Some Factors Effecting Ship Resistance Calculation with CFD Code FLUENT , 2013 .