In conventional rotordynamic modeling, hydrodynamic bearings are often characterized by a set of linear stiffness and damping coefficients obtained from a first-order Taylor series expansion of bearing reactions. Theoretically, these coefficients are only valid for small amplitude motion about an equilibrium position. In this paper, a nonlinear dynamic model that overcomes the small amplitude assumption in the conventional linear analysis is described. By including higher-order terms in the bearing reaction expansion, nonlinearity in the oil film forces for large amplitude motion can be captured and represented by a set of nonlinear stiffness and damping coefficients. These coefficients are functions of static bearing displacement. A finite difference approach is described and is used to solve for these coefficients. The stated model is applied to a conventional slider bearing and a mechanical smart slider bearing that experiences large variations in load. Error assessment is performed numerically on the higher-order solutions to determine an acceptable displacement bound for the higher order coefficients.
Microdynamic systems have been studied for a number of years. Only limited work, however, has been completed on integrating microdynamic components into systems that satisfy mechanical tasks on macroscopic scales. In this paper, we describe microdynamic components needed to produce a surface which is actively deformable on local scales. In particular, we consider the design and demonstration of smart journal and thrust bearings capable of using embedded sensors and actuators to change dynamically the surface geomet ry. The ability actively to deform bearing surfaces allows for the design of bearings which are less prone to failure, the design of bearings with greater load-carrying abilities, and a fundamental study of the effect of surface geometries and fluid conditions on bearing performance, such as start-up and shut-down conditions. Some results of our new bearing designs are presented, focusing on numerical bearing models, sensor and actuator design and fabrication, and physical experimentation.
hydrodynamic, bearings, micro-electro-mechanical systems, M E M s steady-state and dynamic analysis, turbomachineryKeywords
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.