Identifying and Minimising Uncertainty for Experimental Journal Bearing Studies

Over the last few decades, different experimental methods, with varying forms of data analysis, have been employed on a wide range of journal bearing types. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that the results presented, and their accuracy, are subject to varying scatter. Many of the ass...

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Main Authors: G. D. Wale, D. Mba
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2005-01-01
Series:International Journal of Rotating Machinery
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/IJRM.2005.221
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author G. D. Wale
D. Mba
author_facet G. D. Wale
D. Mba
author_sort G. D. Wale
collection DOAJ
description Over the last few decades, different experimental methods, with varying forms of data analysis, have been employed on a wide range of journal bearing types. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that the results presented, and their accuracy, are subject to varying scatter. Many of the assessments have been rather imprecise, often using unquantified statements such as “generally good agreement with predictions.” Most authors seem to have accepted that the appreciable scatter of results, especially in the dynamic oil film coefficients, was inevitable. Uncertainty is defined as the estimate of the errors. Note that the estimate may often be too optimistic because some sources of error have not been identified. This paper highlights sources of error for experimental journal studies, including some associated with the measurement system and physical misalignment. It is intended that this paper presents a coherent source of information on best practice in the field of experimental bearing research, offering a clearly prescribed methodology to estimate uncertainty and reduce error. The results of calculations of the sensitivity of the dynamic bearing coefficients to experimental errors in some commonly used rig configurations are presented. It is shown that one of the excitation schemes gives significantly lower sensitivity, but even this scheme has quite high sensitivity to measurement errors, especially phase. In conclusion, some of the critical precautions in the search for good quality results for experimental journal bearing studies are described.
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spelling doaj-art-41464d16df3f40f2ac42055071f7e9fb2025-08-20T02:07:52ZengWileyInternational Journal of Rotating Machinery1023-621X1542-30342005-01-012005322123110.1155/IJRM.2005.221Identifying and Minimising Uncertainty for Experimental Journal Bearing StudiesG. D. Wale0D. Mba1School of Engineering, Cranfield University, Cranfield, MK43 0AL, UKSchool of Engineering, Cranfield University, Cranfield, MK43 0AL, UKOver the last few decades, different experimental methods, with varying forms of data analysis, have been employed on a wide range of journal bearing types. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that the results presented, and their accuracy, are subject to varying scatter. Many of the assessments have been rather imprecise, often using unquantified statements such as “generally good agreement with predictions.” Most authors seem to have accepted that the appreciable scatter of results, especially in the dynamic oil film coefficients, was inevitable. Uncertainty is defined as the estimate of the errors. Note that the estimate may often be too optimistic because some sources of error have not been identified. This paper highlights sources of error for experimental journal studies, including some associated with the measurement system and physical misalignment. It is intended that this paper presents a coherent source of information on best practice in the field of experimental bearing research, offering a clearly prescribed methodology to estimate uncertainty and reduce error. The results of calculations of the sensitivity of the dynamic bearing coefficients to experimental errors in some commonly used rig configurations are presented. It is shown that one of the excitation schemes gives significantly lower sensitivity, but even this scheme has quite high sensitivity to measurement errors, especially phase. In conclusion, some of the critical precautions in the search for good quality results for experimental journal bearing studies are described.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/IJRM.2005.221journal bearingsexperimental studiesuncertainty errorsaccuracy.
spellingShingle G. D. Wale
D. Mba
Identifying and Minimising Uncertainty for Experimental Journal Bearing Studies
International Journal of Rotating Machinery
journal bearings
experimental studies
uncertainty
errors
accuracy.
title Identifying and Minimising Uncertainty for Experimental Journal Bearing Studies
title_full Identifying and Minimising Uncertainty for Experimental Journal Bearing Studies
title_fullStr Identifying and Minimising Uncertainty for Experimental Journal Bearing Studies
title_full_unstemmed Identifying and Minimising Uncertainty for Experimental Journal Bearing Studies
title_short Identifying and Minimising Uncertainty for Experimental Journal Bearing Studies
title_sort identifying and minimising uncertainty for experimental journal bearing studies
topic journal bearings
experimental studies
uncertainty
errors
accuracy.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/IJRM.2005.221
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AT dmba identifyingandminimisinguncertaintyforexperimentaljournalbearingstudies