Thrust bearings

Support the axial thrust of both horizontal as

well as vertical shafts
Functions are to prevent the shaft from drifting
in the axial direction and to transfer thrust
loads applied on the shaft
Vertical thrust bearings also need to support
the weight of the shaft and any components
attached to it
The moving surface exerted against a thrust
bearing may be the area of the end of the shaft
or the area of a collar attached at any point to
the shaft

Types of thrust bearings

Plain thrust: Consists of a stationary
flat bearing surface against which the
flat end of a rotating shaft is permitted
to bear Flat end of rotor
ROTOR

Axial movement
Bearing surface

Thrust bearing- flat land type

They handle light loads for simple positioning of
rotors
They are usually used in conjunction with other
types of thrust bearings
They carry 10 to 20% of the overall axial load
Bearing surface sometimes incorporated with oil
grooves that help store and distribute oil over the
surface
ROTOR
Oil grooves for
storing and
distributing oil
over the surface

Thrust bearing- step type

Step bearing: Consists of a raised or stepped
bearing surface upon which the lower end of a
vertical shaft or spindle rotates
The entire assembly is submerged in lubricant
Stepped bearings are either designed to undergo
hydrodynamic lubrication or are lubricated
hydrostatically (external pump)
ROTOR

Wedge formation or
pressurized oil
supply
Bearing

Thrust bearing- hydrostatic type

These depend on an external pump to provide oil
under pressure to form a load-bearing film
between surfaces
Used in equipment with extremely low speeds as
a hydrodynamic film cannot form
ROTOR

Bearing surface
Oil under pressure,
supplied by pump

Thrust bearing- collar type

Bearing
surface

Oil supply

Collar type
Shaft rotates
Shaft

Loads are borne by the

Collar
bearing surface that comes in
contact with the collar which is
attached to the shaft

Shaft moves in axial

direction too

Thrust bearing- tilting pad type

(Michell type)
The surfaces are at an angle to each
other
One surface is usually stationary while
the other moves
Undergoes hydrodynamic lubrication,
therefore formation of a wedge of
lubricant under pressure
The amount of pressure build up depends
on the speed of motion and viscosity
The pressure takes on axial loads

Thrust bearing- Tilting pad type

Propeller
Direction of
rotation

Collar

Pushes ship forward

Bearing
plate
Pivot

Oil wedge
Shaft

Tilting pad rotates

around the pivot (angle
of tilt varies)
Back thrust from water to propeller causes
axial loading on the shaft

Axial loads from machinery being driven

In this case thrust from propeller

Axial loads are opposed by pressure buildup

in the wedge
Gives a damping effect
Passes on thrust to the ship

Tilting thrust bearings- basic

geometry

h1 = distance of separation at leading edge

h2 = distance of separation at trailing edge
U = velocity of lower pad in the x direction

Leading
edge
Z

B = bearing breadth
x

The film thickness h at any point is given by:

x
h h1 (h1 h2 )
B

h1

h2

Trailing
edge

B
U

Height ratios
h
h h
h
, therefore
Let 1 (1 K )
K 1 2
1 K
h
h2
or h2
2
The expression for pressure gradient was derived earlier as

x
K
B

dp
h ho
6 U 3
dx
h

Where p is the pressure

h1

is the coefficient of dynamic

viscosity
h

h2

ho is the separation distance at max.

pressure
U is the velocity of the bottom
surface
X

Top surface is stationary

Making the equation nondimensional

Let A = ho/h2 such that ho = Ah2
Substituting this and the value of h in terms of x we get
2

h2
dx
Adx
dp

6U
(1 K Kx / B ) 2 (1 K Kx / B) 3
On rearranging we get:

dp
h2 (1 K Kx / B) h2
6U
3
dx
(1 K Kx / B) 3 h2

Let x* = x/B, a dimensionless length, so that

2

h2
dx*
A
*
dp

dx
6U
(1 K Kx * ) 2 (1 K Kx * ) 3

Pressure distribution equation

Now h22/UB has the dimensions of (pressure)-1 so it is possible to
write (h22/6UB)p as p*, the non-dimensional pressure. The equation
therefore becomes
*
dx
A
*
*
dp

dx
...(12)
* 2
* 3
(1 K Kx ) (1 K Kx )

This is Reynolds equation in non-dimensional form applied to

inclined pads. Integration gives the pressure distribution. On
integration we get:
*
dx
A
*
p

C...(13)
*
* 2
(1 K Kx ) (1 K Kx )

Applying boundary conditions

*
dx
A
*
p

C
*
* 2
(1 K Kx ) (1 K Kx )

A and C are constants of integration. In order to evaluate them the value of

pressure is required at two specific positions. This, in the case of a pad, is
taken as the ambient pressure at the leading and trailing edges, where the
pressure curve starts and stops. These pressures are usually considered as
zero. Therefore the conditions are:
p = 0 at x = 0, and x = B
Non-dimensionalizing we get, p* = 0 at x* = 0 and x* = 1 (since x* = x/B)
First putting p* = 0 at x* = 0, we get:

1
A
0

C
2
K (1 K ) 2K (1 K )

Obtaining the constants of

integration
Then putting p* = 0 at x* = 1, we get:

1 A
0
C
K 2K
The above two equations can be solved to give:

C
Thus:

1
K (2 K )

and

2(1 K )
2K

1
2K
1 K
p

*
K (2 K )
(1 K Kx ) (1 K Kx * ) 2
*

Which can be simplified to give:

Kx * (1 x * )
p
...(14)
* 2
(1 K Kx ) (2 K )
*

Maximum pressure
The max. dimensionless pressure po* occurs when dp/dx =
0, h = ho, and x = xo.

Now,

ho
2(1 K )
A
h2
(2 K )

K
xo 1 K
*
*

x o and p o
Therefore
4(1 K )(2 K )
B 2K

Load carried
Integration of the pressure across the bearing gives the load carried per unit
length, W/L
B
W
6 UB2 1 * *
pdx
p dx
(as x* = x/B)
2

ho

'

1
W .h2
*
*

p
dx
6UB 2 L 0

So

which can be defined as the non-

dimensional load W*.

1

1
K
K (2 K )(1 K Kx ) K (2 K )

Thus W
*
K log e (1 K Kx )
(1 K )
x*
0
2

Which reduces to

W*

1 log e (1 K )
2

K
K
2K

Tilting pad bearing- expression for

load
Now

h2
U
* 2
(6W )
B
W /L

Therefore

W / L h2
*
W
. 2
6U B

h2 6 log e (1 K )
2

B K
K
2 K

1/ 2

U
...(14)
W /L

This equation was first derived by Reynolds for a fixed

inclined surface

Height variation with pivot point

The ratio h1/h2 = (1+K) is determined by the position of the
pivot point
Upper pad rotates around the pivot point
Z

h1

Pivot point
The position of the pivot
point is found by taking
moments about the
leading edge.
x

For stability it should be

at the center of pressure
h2

Velocity U
X