Active lubrication applied to radial gas journal bearings. Part 2: Modelling improvement and experimental validation

Fabián G. Pierart, Ilmar F. Santos

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    Actively-controlled lubrication techniques are applied to radial gas bearings aiming at enhancing one of their most critical drawbacks, their lack of damping. A model-based control design approach is presented using simple feedback control laws, i.e. proportional controllers. The design approach combines three main domains: tribology, dynamics and control. The Reynolds equation with radial injection, including piezoelectrically controlled jet, describes the non-linear interaction between bearing surface and rotating shaft. Dynamics of the flexible shaft and rotating parts are modelled aid by finite element method and the global model is used as control design tool. Active lubrication allows for significant increase in damping factor of the rotor-bearing system. Very good agreement between theory and experiment is obtained, supporting the multi-physic design tool developed.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalTribology International
    Volume96
    Pages (from-to) 237–246
    ISSN0301-679X
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2016

    Keywords

    • Active bearing
    • Gas lubricated bearing
    • Finite-element method
    • Hybrid lubrication

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