Vibration suppression mechanism research of adjustable elliptical journal bearing under synchronous unbalance load

Abstract A concept of an adjustable elliptical journal bearing with variable elliptical ratio was proposed in order to suppress the vibration amplitude of a rotor under synchronous unbalance load at normal speed operating condition. In numerical simulations, dynamic lubrication program is programmed and it could predict the journal center orbits of the bearing. In experiments, adjustable elliptical journal bearing device and testing system are established. With the elliptical ratios adjusting from 0 to 0.7, journal vibrations are simulated and tested. The results obtained from the experiments are in good agreement with that from the numerical simulations. The results indicate that the effects of vibration suppression are satisfied. The proposed adjustable elliptical journal bearing provides an effective way in forced vibration suppression.