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Rotordynamic characteristics of multilobe hybrid bearings with short sills-

part I

Article in Tribology International · August 2003

DOI: 10.1016/S0301-679X(03)00006-9

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 Tribology International 36 (2003) 625–632
www.elsevier.com/locate/triboint

Rotordynamic characteristics of multilobe hybrid bearings with

short sills-part I
M.K. Ghosh ∗, M.R. Satish 1

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India

Received 8 April 2001; received in revised form 9 April 2002; accepted 18 November 2002

Abstract

A small amplitude perturbation analysis has been carried out to determine the rotordynamic characteristics of multilobe hybrid
bearings with short axial and circumferential sills. Unsteady state recess flow continuity equation has been written for orifice
compensated bearing in terms of dynamic recess pressures by perturbing steady state flow equation. Dynamic recess pressures are
evaluated by solving unsteady recess flow continuity equations to determine the dynamic load capacity of the bearing. Stiffness
and damping coefficients of the bearing are determined from the dynamic load capacity of the bearing. Results of dynamic character-
istics of three lobe and four lobe hybrid bearings are presented for various offset factors, speed, concentric pressure and eccentricity
ratios. Multilobe hybrid bearings with offset factors more than one are found to exhibit better dynamic behaviour than circular
hybrid bearings.
 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Rotordynamic coefficients; Hybrid bearing; Multilobe; Stability

1. Introduction ures. Solution of these equations determined the dynamic

Hydrostatic and hybrid journal bearings have attracted
the attention of researchers recently due to their wide
spread applications in high performance NC and CNC
machine tools and high speed turbopumps. In either case
better stiffness and stability characteristics are the motiv-
ating factors behind their choice. Multilobe hydrodyn-
amic journal bearings are known to exhibit better stab-
ility than circular bearings. Investigations reported in the
literature [1] support their antiwhirl characteristics.
Multirecess hybrid journal bearings have also been stud-
ied with reference to their dynamic performance by sev-
eral researchers [2–6]. Davies [6] and Davies and Leon-
ard [2] presented a general analysis for the static and
dynamic behaviour of multirecess journal bearings with
short sills including the effect of journal rotation. Using
perturbation theory unsteady recess flow continuity
equations were written in terms of dynamic recess press-
∗
Corresponding author. Tel.: +91-0542-2368157, fax: +91-0542-
2368428.
E-mail address: mkghosh@bananas.ernet.in (M.K. Ghosh).
1
Former Graduate Student
recess pressures, which were used to determine the
dynamic load capacity of the bearing. Rowe [7] carried
out a similar analysis to determine the stiffness, damping
coefficients and whirl instability of the bearing. The
above approach was further extended to investigate the
dynamic behaviour of multirecess hybrid bearings with
short sills in the turbulent regime by San Andres [8].
Sawicki et al. [9] investigated theoretically and exper-
imentally the rotordynamic characteristics of hybrid
journal bearing. Close agreement between measured
dynamic force components and those theoretically calcu-
lated using rotordynamic coefficients were observed.
However, multilobe hybrid journal bearings have not
been investigated so far.
In the present work small amplitude perturbation analy-
sis has been carried out to investigate the dynamic behav-
iour of multilobe hybrid journal bearings with large
recesses or short sills. Results of stiffness and damping
coefficients of orifice compensated 3- and 4-lobe bearings
are presented for various offset factors, speed and concen-
tric pressure ratios. Results show that multilobe hybrid
bearings with offset factors of more than one have better
dynamic characteristics than circular hybrid bearings.

0301-679X/03/$ - see front matter  2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/S0301-679X(03)00006-9
626 M.K. Ghosh, M.R. Satish / Tribology International 36 (2003) 625–632

Nomenclature
C radial clearance of circular bearing, C = C 1
C 1, C 2 clearance due to a circle circumscribed and inscribed on the bearing respectively.
Cd discharge coefficient of orifice
Cxx, Cyy cxy, cyx direct damping coefficient, c = C (C 1ω / 1dps) (dimensionless)
d, d0 diameter of journal and orifice diameter respectively
e eccentricity of the journal
eu dynamic eccentricity or unbalance eccentricity
Kxx, Kyy, Kxy, Kyx direct and cross stiffness coefficients, k = KC 1 / ldps (dimensionless)
l, l1, lr, lc length of the bearing, axial land width, recess length and circumferential land width respectively
m=l1lr/dlc aspect ratio
mr rotor mass per bearing
N number of recess
Ns shaft speed in revolutions per second
Oj journal centre
Om journal mass centre
pn,p̄n pressure in nth recess, p̄n = pn / ps (dimensionless)
ps supply pressure
Q,Q̄ 6h11Q
flow rate, Q̄ = (dimensionless)
pdC31ps
r = (pn / ps)e = 0 concentric pressure ratio
W load on the bearing
w = 6phNsl 1lr / C 21 ps speed variable, w0-speed variable for minimum power
Wx, Wy dynamic film forcess in x, y directions
W̄x,W̄y dimensionless dynamic film forces, W̄x = Wx / (1r + 11)dps, W̄y = Wy / (1r + 11)dps
⍀ = 2pNs shaft speed in radian per second
e e/C1 eccentricity ratio
a attitude angle
j load angle
3√2Cdd20h11
l=
√rpsC31d orifice design parameter (dimensionless)
r,h lubricant density and viscosity respectively
t time
⍀ angular speed of the shaft
X, Y Coordinates
dX, dY perturbation displacement in X, Y coordinates
dX dY
dx = , dy =
C1 C1 dimensionless perturbation displacement
d = C 1 / C 2 offset factor

2. Analysis

The geometry of multilobe and multirecess hydro-

(xj,yj) ⫽ 冉 e
C1
e
cosa, sina
C1 冊 (2)

static journal bearing having N recesses are shown in While the dimensionless coordinates of the nth lobe
Fig. 1 and 2, respectively. centre (xn1,yn1) of an N lobe bearing can be expressed as

冋
The film thickness in the clearance space of the nth
1⫺d p 1⫺d p
lobe and the journal surface can be expressed in the (xn1,yn1) ⫽ cos (N⫺1 ⫹ 2n), sin (N⫺1 (3)
dimensionless form in cartesian coordinates as: d N d N
1
Hn ⫽ ⫺(xj⫺xn1)cosq⫺(yj⫺yn1)sinq
d
(1) ⫹ 2n) 册
where dimensionless equilibrium coordinates of the jour- Unsteady State recess flow continuity equation for nth
nal centre (xj, yj) can be written as recess.
 M.K. Ghosh, M.R. Satish / Tribology International 36 (2003) 625–632 627

Fig. 2. Schematic diagram of the general multi-recess hydrostatic

journal bearing with N recesses.

the steady state position of the journal centre given by

its eccentricity ratio, ⑀ and attitude angle a as:

冕 再 冎
2pn
3
N 1
An ⫽ ⫺(xj⫺xn1)cosq⫺(yj⫺yn1)sinq dq
2p
(n⫺1) d
N

1
再
Cn ⫽ m ⫺(xj⫺xn1)cos
d
2pn
N
⫺(yj⫺yn1)sin
2pn
N 冎3

再 2p
Sn ⫽ (xj⫺xn1) cos (n⫺1)⫺cos
N
2pn
N 冎
再 2p
⫹ (yj⫺yn1) sin (n⫺1)⫺sin
N
2pn
N 冎
Under dynamic conditions when the journal centre
Fig. 1. Nomenclature of four lobe bearings. undergoes vibrations with amplitude d⑀ and da, respect-
ively and thereby induces dynamic pressures in the
The X, Y coordinates are chosen such that X-axis is recess dp̄n⫺1, dp̄n and dp̄n + 1, respectively. Perturbed
in line with the static load vector in the absence of any flow dQ̄ can be written as:
dynamic disturbance. Attitude angle a becomes zero in ∂Q̄ ∂Q̄ ∂Q̄
this case. Using the assumptions of Davies [6], the net dQ̄ ⫽ dp̄ ⫹ dp̄ ⫹ dp̄ (5)
∂p̄n⫺1 n⫺1 ∂p̄n n⫺1 ∂p̄n+1 n+1
rate of accumulation of fluid in the nth recess for an
orifice compensated bearing is written in the dimen- ∂Q̄ ∂Q̄
⫹ de ⫹ da
sionless form as: ∂e ∂a
Q̄ ⫽ l冑1⫺p̄n⫺⍀Sn ⫹ (p̄n⫺1⫺p̄n)Cn⫺1⫺Anp̄n⫺(p̄n (4) This rate of accumulation must be equal to the rate at
which the volume of nth recess clearance space changes
⫺p̄n+1)Cn due to movement of the shaft expressed as
when ∂V ∂V ∂e ∂V ∂a
⫽ · ⫹ · (6)
p̄n⫺1 ⬎ p̄n ⬎ p̄n+1 ∂t ∂e ∂t ∂a ∂t
and An, Cn, Cn⫺ 1 and Sn are flow coefficients defined for where
628 M.K. Ghosh, M.R. Satish / Tribology International 36 (2003) 625–632

冕 再 冎 ∂W̄x ∂W̄x
2p
n
1tdC1 N 1
V⫽ ⫺(xj⫺xn1)cosq⫺(yj⫺yn1)sinq dq kxx kxy ∂x ∂y
2 2p
N
(n⫺1) d

Simplification of the above expression gives the follow-

|
kyx kyy
|⫽
|
∂W̄y
∂x
∂W̄y
∂y
|
ing:
and (10)
∂V̄
∂t
⫽ ⫺4w dẋcos 再
2p (n⫺1)
(7) cxx cxy
∂W̄x ∂W̄x
∂ẋ ∂ẏ

⫹ dẏsin
N 2
2p (n⫺1)
冎
·sin
p
|
cyx cyy
|⫽
|
∂W̄y ∂W̄y
∂ẋ ∂ẏ
|
N 2 N

Eqs. (4), (5) and (7) yield unsteady state recess flow con-
tinuity equation using the following relationship, 4. Results and discussion

de ⫽ dxcosa ⫹ dysina Results of stiffness and damping characteristics of 3-

and 4-lobe hybrid bearings are presented in graphical
dx dy
da ⫽ sina⫺ cosa form in Figs. 3–13.
e e Fig. 3 shows the variation of direct stiffness at various
offset factors for 3- and 4-lobe bearings against concen-
as: tric pressure ratio at zero eccentricity ratio and optimum

再冑 冎
speed of rotation. Optimum speed refers to the speed at
l
Cn⫺1dp̄n⫺1⫺ ⫹ An ⫹ Cn⫺1 ⫹ Cn dp̄n ⫹ which power consumption is minimum. It is observed
2 1⫺p̄n that stiffness increases with increase in offset factor.

再 冎
Thus offset factor ⬎1 shows higher stiffness than offset
dAn ∂Sn ∂Cn⫺1 ∂Cn
⫺p̄n ⫺⍀ ⫹ (p̄n⫺1⫺p̄n) ⫺(p̄n⫺p̄n+1) factor one which represents circular bearing. It is also
de ∂e ∂e ∂e seen that 4-lobe bearing has higher stiffness than 3-lobe
·(dxcosa ⫹ dysina) bearing. An optimum value of concentric pressure ratio

再 ∂An
⫹ ⫺p̄n ⫺⍀
∂a
∂Sn
∂a
⫹ (p̄n⫺1⫺p̄n )
∂Cn⫺1
∂a
⫺(p̄n⫺p̄n+1)
∂Cn
∂a 冎 is also observed at which stiffness is maximum. Vari-
ation of direct stiffness kxx and kyy are shown in Figs. 4
and 5 against pressure ratio at various eccentricity ratios
· 冉
dxsina⫺dycosa
e 冊 for an offset factor of 1.5. At zero eccentricity ratio due
to symmetry kxx = kyy. The optimum value of pressure

再
⫽ ⫺4w dẋsin
2p n⫺1
N 2 冉 冊
⫹ dẏcos
2p n⫺1
N 2
·sin 冉 冊冎
p
N
(8)

3. Bearing stiffness and damping coefficients

Dynamic recess pressures can be determined in terms

of displacements dx and dy and their derivatives by solv-
ing eq. (8). Dynamic recess pressures can be used to
determine dynamic film forces which can be expressed
in terms of the stiffness and damping coefficients of the
bearing in the dimensionless form as:

dW̄x ⫽ kxxdx ⫹ cxxdẋ ⫹ kxydx ⫹ cxydẋ

(9)
dW̄y ⫽ kyxdx ⫹ cyxdẋ ⫹ kyydx ⫹ cyydẏ

Dimensionless fluid film stiffness and damping coef- Fig. 3. Direct stiffness versus pressure ratio for 3 and 4-lobe hydro-
ficients are defined as: static journal bearing for various offset factors.
 M.K. Ghosh, M.R. Satish / Tribology International 36 (2003) 625–632
Fig. 4. Direct stiffness versus pressure ratio for 3- and 4-lobe hydro-
static journal bearing for various eccentricity ratios.
Fig. 5. Direct stiffness versus pressure ratio for 3- and 4-lobe hydro-
static journal bearings for various eccentricity ratios.
ratio is observed to shift with eccentricity ratio. kxx
decreases with increase in eccentricity ratio whereas kyy
is observed to increase. This is due to assymetry in the
film shape caused by eccentricity and this results in
changes in both static and dynamic recess pressures.
Results of cross stiffness kxy and kyx are presented
through Figs. 6–8 for various eccentricity ratios at the
optimum speed. kxy = ⫺kyx at zero eccentricity ratio.
Cross stiffness characteristics also show similar trends
as direct stiffness with regard to its variation with offset
629
Fig. 6. Cross stiffness versus pressure ratio for 3- and 4-lobe hydro-
static journal bearings for various offset factors.
Fig. 7. Cross stiffness versus pressure ratio for 3- and 4-lobe hydro-
static journal bearings for various eccentricity ratios.
factor and pressure ratio. Effect of speed on the cross
stiffness is shown in Fig. 9 for zero eccentricity ratio
and concentric pressure ratio of 0.6. It is observed that
cross stiffness increases linearly with increase in speed.
Cross stiffness affects the stability of the rotor and there-
fore its increase with speed generally indicates reduced
stability of the rotor supported by the bearing. Direct
stiffness is not dependant on the speed generally.
Damping characteristics of multilobe hybrid bearing
630 M.K. Ghosh, M.R. Satish / Tribology International 36 (2003) 625–632
Fig. 8. Cross stiffness versus pressure ratio for 3- and 4-lobe hydro-
static journal bearings for various eccentricity ratios.
Fig. 9. Cross stiffness versus speed ratio for 3- and 4-lobe hydrostatic
journal bearings for various offset factors.
are shown in Figs. 10–14. In the case of both direct and
cross damping, an optimum pressure ratio is observed at
which damping is maximum. Damping coefficient
increases with increase in the offset factor. Cross damp-
ing shown in Fig. 13 is significantly lower than direct
damping coefficient. However, the trend of the variation
is similar. Influence of speed ratio on the direct damping
coefficient is shown in Fig. 14. Direct damping increases
linearly with increase in the speed ratio. Direct damping
is helpful in stabilising the rotor supported by the bear-
Fig. 10. Direct damping versus pressure ratio for 3- and 4-lobe
hydrostatic journal bearings for various offset factors.
Fig. 11. Direct damping versus pressure ratio for 3- and 4-lobe
hydrostatic journal bearings for various eccentricity ratios.
ing. Cross damping is generally not dependant on the
speed ratio. Eccentricity ratio effect on the damping
coefficient is not very significant as is observed in Figs.
11 and 12.
Therefore, to improve the dynamic performance of
hybrid bearings an offset factor of ⬎1 is necessary. The
bearing may be designed for maximum stiffness at its
 M.K. Ghosh, M.R. Satish / Tribology International 36 (2003) 625–632
Fig. 12. Direct damping versus pressure ratio for 3- and 4-lobe
hydrostatic journal bearings for various eccentricity factors.
Fig. 13. Cross damping versus pressure ratio for 3- and 4-lobe hydro-
static journal bearings for various eccentricity factors.
optimum speed with respect to minimum power con-
sumption. The rotor mass for stable operation can be
evaluated using rotordynamic coefficients. Hybrid bear-
ings generally operate at low eccentricity ratio and there-
fore the design should be based on its concentric pos-
ition characteristics.
631
Fig. 14. Direct damping versus speed ratio for 3- and 4-lobe hydro-
static journal bearings for various offset factors.
5. Conclusions
The following conclusions can be drawn from the
above results
1. Non- circular hybrid bearings with offset factor more
than one are dynamically better than circular hybrid
bearings
2. Four lobe bearings exhibit better dynamic character-
istics than three lobe bearing
3. Direct stiffness coefficients are independent of speed
parameter while cross stiffness coefficients increase
linearly with speed parameter for concentric oper-
ation. An optimum value of concentric pressure ratio
exist at which direct stiffness is maximum and the
bearing should be designed for maximum stiffness at
the optimum operating speed for minimum power
consumption.
4. Direct damping increase linearly with speed para-
meter while cross damping coefficients are negligible
for concentric operation.
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