Testing of Load Capacity of a Foil Thrust Bearing

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

In this study, the performance of foil thrust bearings was investigated by performing bearing takeoff and load capacity tests, using an in-house designed and manufactured vertical bearing test rig. The mean takeoff rotational speed and maximum load capacity of the bearing specimen were ~18,000 rpm and ~80 kPa, respectively. The vertical bearing test rig was observed to yield higher coefficients of friction and frictional torques than a horizontal bearing test rig under identical test conditions. This was a result of its structural characteristics, in that the bearing specimen is placed atop the thrust runner, which keeps it from being separated from the runner after the bearing take-off. In addition, bearing take-off was observed at a higher runner rotational speed as this structure keeps air from flowing between the top foil and runner surfaces, which requires a higher runner speed. The parallel alignment between the bearing specimen and runner surfaces can be maintained within a certain range more easily in a vertical test rig than in a horizontal test rig. Because of these advantages, Korean Industrial Standard, KS B 2060, recommends a vertical bearing test rig as the standard test device for foil thrust bearings.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Abstract
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Test Setup and Bearing Specimen
• 3. Performance Testing
• 4. Conclusions
• References