Transient analysis of misaligned elastic tilting-pad journal bearing

For several reasons, almost all bearings operate in a misaligned condition, the present research work deals with analyzing the performance of a misaligned tilting-pad journal bearing under transient loading condition. The elastic and thermal distortions of the pad are considered and finite element analysis is used to calculate the pad’s elastic deformation. Using finite difference method, the Reynolds equation is simultaneously solved with the energy equation to calculate the pressure distribution and hence the other bearing performance characteristics. A modified fluid film thickness equation is used to take the effect of shaft misalignment and bearing elastic and thermal distortion into consideration. The results have shown that considering the thermo-elasto-hydrodynamic distortion improves the bearing performance in the case of misalignment shaft. And, at low values of shaft misalignment, the decrease in oil film thickness due to shaft misalignment is compensated by the increase in oil film thickness due to elastic and thermal distortions.