Comparison of measured and calculated water film thickness of a water-lubricated elastically supported tilting pad thrust bearing. (7th October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liang, Xingxin; Yan, Xinping; Ouyang, Wu; Wood, Robert J K; Kuang, Fuming; Liu, Zhenglin; Zhou, Xincong
• Is Part Of: Surface topography. Volume 7:Number 4(2019:Oct./Dec.)
• Publication Date: 2019-10-07
• Subjects: water-lubricated thrust bearing -- elastically support -- film thickness measurement -- fluorescence technique; Surfaces (Physics) -- Periodicals; Surfaces (Physics) -- Measurement -- Periodicals; 530.417
• DOI: 10.1088/2051-672X/ab47a6
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2051-672X

Abstract

Abstract: A xenon induced fluorescence technique is used to measure the water film thickness of a rubber-supported water-lubricated tilting pad thrust bearing (RWTB). Film thickness maps are obtained over a range of speeds and loads. Based on a Thermo-Elasto-Hydrodynamic lubrication model, the calculated film thickness is compared with the measured one. The measurement shows that the lubrication regime of the RWTB can be observed and it can form a convergent wedge of lubricant. The calculated results are on par with the experimental results at low speed condition (200 r · min −1 ). Generally, the calculated film thickness is larger and the discrepancy between them increases respecting to the speed. The RWTB is in the hydrodynamic lubrication regime when the speed is over 200 r · min −1 and the load is less than 0.25 MPa. The comparison between the measurements and calculations verifies that the fluorescence technique can be used to measure the film thickness of water-lubricated thrust bearings.