Rotor Dynamic Characteristics Supported by Multi-Pad Bump Foil Gas Bearings

Bump foil gas bearings (BFGBs) play an important role in high-speed turbomachinery. However, most studies on the dynamic characteristics of BFGBs focus on a one-pad structure composed of a bump foil and a top foil. This paper considers the multi-pad foil structure in BFGBs by developing the finite e...

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Main Authors: Lei Zhao, Hongyang Hu, Changlin Li, Jingquan Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Lubricants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/3/127
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author Lei Zhao
Hongyang Hu
Changlin Li
Jingquan Zhao
author_facet Lei Zhao
Hongyang Hu
Changlin Li
Jingquan Zhao
author_sort Lei Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Bump foil gas bearings (BFGBs) play an important role in high-speed turbomachinery. However, most studies on the dynamic characteristics of BFGBs focus on a one-pad structure composed of a bump foil and a top foil. This paper considers the multi-pad foil structure in BFGBs by developing the finite element model of bump and top foils and introducing nonlinear contact constraints between bearing components. In addition, a transient dynamic model of a rotor and multi-pad bump foil gas bearing (MP-BFGB) system is established through sufficient considerations of coupling effects among rotor, gas film, and foil structures. Nonlinear rotor dynamic responses, including stability and vibration characteristics, are obtained through integrating the transient state variables in the time domain. The results show that the rotor stability can be enhanced by increasing the number of top foil pads, which, however, tends to reduce the bearing load capacity and gas film stiffness. In addition, rotor sub-synchronous vibrations are more prone to appear under greater gas film stiffness.
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id doaj-art-6c8fef55643740ba8b7d17af14cf73f2
institution OA Journals
issn 2075-4442
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Lubricants
spelling doaj-art-6c8fef55643740ba8b7d17af14cf73f22025-08-20T02:11:04ZengMDPI AGLubricants2075-44422025-03-0113312710.3390/lubricants13030127Rotor Dynamic Characteristics Supported by Multi-Pad Bump Foil Gas BearingsLei Zhao0Hongyang Hu1Changlin Li2Jingquan Zhao3School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, ChinaAVIC Xinxiang Aviation Industry (Group) Co., Ltd., Xinxiang 453000, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, ChinaSchool of Aeronautic Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, ChinaBump foil gas bearings (BFGBs) play an important role in high-speed turbomachinery. However, most studies on the dynamic characteristics of BFGBs focus on a one-pad structure composed of a bump foil and a top foil. This paper considers the multi-pad foil structure in BFGBs by developing the finite element model of bump and top foils and introducing nonlinear contact constraints between bearing components. In addition, a transient dynamic model of a rotor and multi-pad bump foil gas bearing (MP-BFGB) system is established through sufficient considerations of coupling effects among rotor, gas film, and foil structures. Nonlinear rotor dynamic responses, including stability and vibration characteristics, are obtained through integrating the transient state variables in the time domain. The results show that the rotor stability can be enhanced by increasing the number of top foil pads, which, however, tends to reduce the bearing load capacity and gas film stiffness. In addition, rotor sub-synchronous vibrations are more prone to appear under greater gas film stiffness.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/3/127multi-pad bump foil bearingrotor dynamic characteristicsfinite element methodnonlinear contact constraints
spellingShingle Lei Zhao
Hongyang Hu
Changlin Li
Jingquan Zhao
Rotor Dynamic Characteristics Supported by Multi-Pad Bump Foil Gas Bearings
Lubricants
multi-pad bump foil bearing
rotor dynamic characteristics
finite element method
nonlinear contact constraints
title Rotor Dynamic Characteristics Supported by Multi-Pad Bump Foil Gas Bearings
title_full Rotor Dynamic Characteristics Supported by Multi-Pad Bump Foil Gas Bearings
title_fullStr Rotor Dynamic Characteristics Supported by Multi-Pad Bump Foil Gas Bearings
title_full_unstemmed Rotor Dynamic Characteristics Supported by Multi-Pad Bump Foil Gas Bearings
title_short Rotor Dynamic Characteristics Supported by Multi-Pad Bump Foil Gas Bearings
title_sort rotor dynamic characteristics supported by multi pad bump foil gas bearings
topic multi-pad bump foil bearing
rotor dynamic characteristics
finite element method
nonlinear contact constraints
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/3/127
work_keys_str_mv AT leizhao rotordynamiccharacteristicssupportedbymultipadbumpfoilgasbearings
AT hongyanghu rotordynamiccharacteristicssupportedbymultipadbumpfoilgasbearings
AT changlinli rotordynamiccharacteristicssupportedbymultipadbumpfoilgasbearings
AT jingquanzhao rotordynamiccharacteristicssupportedbymultipadbumpfoilgasbearings