Experimental performance evaluation of a lightweight additively manufactured hydrodynamic thrust bearing

In this paper, a lightweight additively manufactured (AM) fixed geometry hydrodynamic thrust bearing fabricated via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is experimentally compared to a traditionally manufactured cast aluminum alloy thrust bearing of similar design. The purpose of this study is to evaluate...

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Main Authors: Collier Fais, Isaiah Yasko, Muhammad Ali, Rick Walker, Joe Walker
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-03-01
Series:International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2588840424000945
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author Collier Fais
Isaiah Yasko
Muhammad Ali
Rick Walker
Joe Walker
author_facet Collier Fais
Isaiah Yasko
Muhammad Ali
Rick Walker
Joe Walker
author_sort Collier Fais
collection DOAJ
description In this paper, a lightweight additively manufactured (AM) fixed geometry hydrodynamic thrust bearing fabricated via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is experimentally compared to a traditionally manufactured cast aluminum alloy thrust bearing of similar design. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how weight-saving design features in the AM bearing affect active critical hydrodynamic performance parameters to better understand in-service viability. Under various static operating conditions, performance parameters such as hydrodynamic pressure distribution, minimum oil film thickness (MOFT), bearing temperature and increase in oil temperature are measured. Compared to the traditionally manufactured bearing, the AM bearing showed an average increase in minimum oil film thickness of 53 %, an average increase in trailing edge hydrodynamic pressure of 116 %, while exhibiting an average decrease in bearing temperature of 1 %. Experimental results are compared to numerical simulation showing reasonably good agreement.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2588-8404
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
record_format Article
series International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture
spelling doaj-art-61dba798cb9b4d85bea0665fe28c74772025-08-20T03:42:18ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture2588-84042025-03-018228529910.1016/j.ijlmm.2024.10.003Experimental performance evaluation of a lightweight additively manufactured hydrodynamic thrust bearingCollier Fais0Isaiah Yasko1Muhammad Ali2Rick Walker3Joe Walker4Ohio University, USAOhio University, USAOhio University, USA; Corresponding author.Miba Bearings LLC, USAArctos-US, USAIn this paper, a lightweight additively manufactured (AM) fixed geometry hydrodynamic thrust bearing fabricated via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is experimentally compared to a traditionally manufactured cast aluminum alloy thrust bearing of similar design. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how weight-saving design features in the AM bearing affect active critical hydrodynamic performance parameters to better understand in-service viability. Under various static operating conditions, performance parameters such as hydrodynamic pressure distribution, minimum oil film thickness (MOFT), bearing temperature and increase in oil temperature are measured. Compared to the traditionally manufactured bearing, the AM bearing showed an average increase in minimum oil film thickness of 53 %, an average increase in trailing edge hydrodynamic pressure of 116 %, while exhibiting an average decrease in bearing temperature of 1 %. Experimental results are compared to numerical simulation showing reasonably good agreement.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2588840424000945Additive manufacturingHydrodynamic thrust bearingsExperimental test rig3D printed bearing
spellingShingle Collier Fais
Isaiah Yasko
Muhammad Ali
Rick Walker
Joe Walker
Experimental performance evaluation of a lightweight additively manufactured hydrodynamic thrust bearing
International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture
Additive manufacturing
Hydrodynamic thrust bearings
Experimental test rig
3D printed bearing
title Experimental performance evaluation of a lightweight additively manufactured hydrodynamic thrust bearing
title_full Experimental performance evaluation of a lightweight additively manufactured hydrodynamic thrust bearing
title_fullStr Experimental performance evaluation of a lightweight additively manufactured hydrodynamic thrust bearing
title_full_unstemmed Experimental performance evaluation of a lightweight additively manufactured hydrodynamic thrust bearing
title_short Experimental performance evaluation of a lightweight additively manufactured hydrodynamic thrust bearing
title_sort experimental performance evaluation of a lightweight additively manufactured hydrodynamic thrust bearing
topic Additive manufacturing
Hydrodynamic thrust bearings
Experimental test rig
3D printed bearing
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2588840424000945
work_keys_str_mv AT collierfais experimentalperformanceevaluationofalightweightadditivelymanufacturedhydrodynamicthrustbearing
AT isaiahyasko experimentalperformanceevaluationofalightweightadditivelymanufacturedhydrodynamicthrustbearing
AT muhammadali experimentalperformanceevaluationofalightweightadditivelymanufacturedhydrodynamicthrustbearing
AT rickwalker experimentalperformanceevaluationofalightweightadditivelymanufacturedhydrodynamicthrustbearing
AT joewalker experimentalperformanceevaluationofalightweightadditivelymanufacturedhydrodynamicthrustbearing