Effects of Tilting Pad Journal Bearing Design Parameters on the Pad-Pivot Friction and Nonlinear Rotordynamic Bifurcations

This study numerically analyzes and investigates the effects of the bearing design parameters of a tilting pad journal bearing (TPJB) on the pad-pivot friction-induced nonlinear rotordynamic phenomena and bifurcations. The bearing parameters were set to the pad preload, pivot offset, spherical pivot radius, and bearing length to diameter (L/D) ratio. The Stribeck curve model (SCM) model was applied at the contact surface between the pad and the pivot, which varied to the boundary-mixed-fluid friction state depending on the friction condition. The rotor-bearing model was set up with a symmetrical five-pad TPJB system supporting a Jeffcott type rigid rotor. The fluid repelling force generated in the oil film between each pad and the shaft was calculated using a finite element method. The simulation recurrently conducted the transient numerical integration to obtain the Poincare maps and phase states of the journal and pad with various bearing design variables, then the nonlinear properties of each condition were analyzed by expressing the bifurcation diagrams. As a result, the original findings of this study are: (1) The pad preload and pivot offset significantly influenced the emergence of Hopf bifurcations and the associated limit cycles. In contrast, (2) the pivot radius and L/D ratio contributed relatively less to the friction-induced instability. Resultantly, (3) all the effects diminished when the rotor operated under the larger mass eccentricity of the disc.