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This paper aims to describe how successfully a particular restrictor delivers its best in increasing the conical journal bearing performance. The restrictors are used in the hole-entry conical journal bearing subjected to hybrid mode. Thus, the restrictors, like constant flow valve (CFV), orifice and capillary, are studied comparatively.

Numerical simulation for the bearing results with the three restrictors are obtained by using finite element method (FEM) under the well-known modified Reynolds equation.

When the hole-entry conical journal bearings, with the restrictor design parameter range C¯_s2 = 0.03 – 0.09, are operated, the results obtained are quite distinctive and significant. It indicates that the CFV restrictor-based conical bearing gives enhanced performance in comparison to orifice and capillary restrictors. Moreover, it suggests the performance-wise sequence of the restrictors in hybrid bearings as CFV > Orifice > Capillary.

The outcome of the research paper will give insight to help the bearing designer to choose the particular restrictor in hybrid conical bearing depending on the industrial need.

Hybrid conical journal bearings have received great attraction by design engineers and researchers due to their incomparable performance. However, performance of these bearings is affected due to wear. This paper aims to present an analytical study concerning the performance of hole entry worn hybrid conical journal bearings.

The Reynolds equation governing the flow of lubricant in the clearance space along with the restrictor flow equations has been solved using finite element method.

The numerically simulated results of worn bearing performance parameters indicate significant change in the performance due to wear. Therefore, for semi cone angle γ = 25^°, the value of C¯₂₂ reduces by 24.6 per cent at the wear value of about 50 per cent of radial clearance for the given configuration of bearing.

The present results are original of its kind and surely useful to bearing designers and researchers in predicting actual performance of worn hole entry hybrid conical journal bearing.

Where combined radial and axial loads act on the bearing, the conical journal bearing is best suited. Large turbines, generators, compressors and other machinery perform better while using conical hydrodynamic journal bearings (CHJBs). The bearings worn out and the performance suffered because of regular use and numerous start and stop operations.

The performance of CHJB is evaluated using both analytical and experimental methods in this paper. The analytical method for resolving Reynolds equation uses spherical coordinate system and finite element analysis. On the CHJB test rig, data is collected for different radial loads with 10°, 20° and 30° semi-cone angles using hydraulic oil of viscosity grade ISO VG46.

The findings of this paper demonstrate that at various semi-cone angles for worn-out bearings, the maximum pressure developed increases with increasing radial load.

This paper provides analytical and experimental performance of CHJBs considering the effect of abrasive wear that is caused because of frequent start and stop operations of machine. The results of wear impact on CHJBs will be helpful for researchers and design engineers.

This paper aims to study the static characteristics of the hydrostatic conical journal bearings by utilizing single-action membrane restrictors to compensate the working pressures of recesses.

The flow resistance network method is used to analyze the influences of load capacity and static stiffness of bearing with the design parameters, including the number of recesses, radial eccentricity ratio, axial displacement ratio, restriction constant, membrane compliance, length-diameter ratio, circumferential land width ratio, axial land width ratio and half of cone angle.

This study shows the infinite stiffness of the oil produced in the first and second recesses while single-action membrane restriction constant of 2 and 3, respectively, as well as in the fourth recess while single-action membrane restriction constant of 0.01 and 0.1, respectively.

This article provides the hydrostatic conical bearings in static and unbiased states for analyses of design parameters. The analyses ignore dynamic pressure effect and do not use the Reynolds equation, and assuming that each oil recesses pressure is constant.

The influences of the design parameters including the number of recesses, membrane restriction, membrane compliance, length-diameter ratio, half of con-angle, circumferential land width ratio, and axial land width ratio are discussed to the load capacity and static stiffness of conical bearing.

Based on the characteristics of the conical bearing through analysis, this article suggests the front bearing with hard membrane restrictor (capillary) and the back bearing with soft membrane restrictor are the most appropriate for axial stiffness.

This paper aims to study the influence of thermal effect on the performance for a high-speed conical hybrid bearing including stability and minimum oil film thickness.

A thermal hydrodynamic (THD) model and dynamic model of single mass rigid rotor system were established by taking conical hybrid bearing with shallow and deep pockets as the research object, dynamic coefficient and stability parameters of bearing-rotor system were obtained by using finite element method (FEM) and finite difference method (FDM) to solve computational models of Reynolds equation, energy equation and viscosity-temperature equation. Minimum oil film thickness was obtained based on bearing force balance. Dynamic coefficient was compared with previous findings.

After considering thermal effect, the dimensionless critical mass decreases, a significant decrease in the instability speed, and the stability of the system decreases greatly; the minimum oil film thickness decreases because of thermal effect.

The thermal effect is combined with dynamic characteristics to analyze stability of the rotor system for a conical hybrid bearing. Influence of thermal effect on minimum oil film thickness is studied.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-12-2019-0542/

The purpose of this paper is to investigate dynamic characteristics of opposed-conical gas-dynamic bearings considering five degree-of-freedom motion, including translation and tilt.

The steady-state Reynolds equation and perturbed Reynolds equations are solved on the surface of conical bearings, and both stiffness and damping coefficients are calculated. A formula for quickly calculating critical mass is deduced to discriminate the stability of the rotor considering the five degree-of-freedom motion.

Results show that the stability of the rotor is mainly determined by translation rather than tilt. The formula of critical mass is validated by comparing the results with traditional Routh–Hurwitz criterion.

The formula proposed in this paper greatly simplifies the solution of critical mass, which facilitates the rotor stability design. It is applicable for opposed-conical bearings, opposed-hemispherical bearings and spherical bearings. The results provide theoretical guidance for the design of gas-dynamic bearings.

To enhance the load capacity and dynamic characteristics of gas foil conical bearings (GFCBs), two kinds of microgrooves (sector and Fibonacci-like shape) are arranged on the top foil surface.

The Reynolds equation considering gas rarefaction effect is solved by the finite difference method, in which the 2D plate element stiffness model is used for the grooved top foil. The influence of groove on the static characteristics is studied, and the dynamic characteristics of novel bearing are obtained by the perturbation method.

The results show that the gas rarefaction effect on the load capacities is negligible, and the novel GFCB with microgrooved top foil has higher load capacities. Moreover, the deeper groove is conductive to the dynamic stability improvement. The positive Fibonacci-like groove seems to be the most suitable shape, which can largely increase the axial load capacity with little additional torque cost. And the improvement of dynamic characteristics for the Fibonacci-like grooved GFCB is also more favorable.

As the low cost of groove processing, it is an effective way to improve GFCB’s performance and even can be used to upgrade the bearings in service.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-04-2024-0148/

The purpose of this paper is to study the effect law of roundness error on the properties of gas foil conical bearing (GFCB), and the performance of bearings with different non-circular sleeve shapes are calculated.

For the bump-type GFCB, the nonlinear bump foil stiffness model and 1-D beam top foil stiffness model are built. On this basis, the finite element method and finite difference method are used to solve the Reynolds equation and the film thickness equation coupled, and the static and dynamic properties of GFCB are calculated. The effect law of sleeve roundness error on the static performance under different conditions is obtained. Moreover, the dynamic stiffness and damping characteristics under different errors are also studied.

The roundness error will decrease the load capacity and friction torque of GFCB, and increase the attitude angle. The error effect is more dramatic when there is larger eccentric, small nominal clearance, larger error value and more error lobes, and the static performance exhibits a periodic change in the circumferential direction. The roundness error can also decrease the direct stiffness and cross-coupled damping of GFCB, while the cross-coupled stiffness increases largely, which will reduce the bearing stability.

The roundness error adversely affects the static and dynamic characteristics of GFCB, which should be concerned by bearing designers, researchers and academicians.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-01-2020-0019/

This paper aims to study the bearing performance with different cone angle errors, to study the effect law of manufacturing taper error on the properties of gas foil conical bearing (GFCB).

For the GFCB supported by separated bump foil strips, a nonlinear structure stiffness model considering Coulomb friction and arch characteristics was proposed. The finite element method and finite difference method were used to solve the Reynolds equation and the film thickness equation by coupling, and the properties of the GFCB were obtained. The effect of foil and bearing structure parameters on the static and dynamic performance under different taper error cases was analyzed. Moreover, a test on the air compressor supported by GFCBs was conducted to verify the practicability.

The taper error has a largely adverse effect on the load capacity of GFCB. When the taper error is −0.03°, the radial load capacity Fr and axial load capacity Fz decrease by 37.5 and 58.3%, respectively. The taper error decreases the direct stiffness and cross-coupled damping of GFCB, which will weaken the bearing stability. Moreover, the performance of GFCB is closely related to the foil and bearing parameters.

The taper error adversely affects the static and dynamic characteristics of GFCB, which should be concerned by bearing designers, researchers and academicians.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-03-2020-0089/

The present paper aims to analyse the synergistic effect of pocket orientation and piezo-viscous-polar (PVP) lubrication on the performance of multi-recessed hybrid journal bearing (MHJB) system.

To simulate the behaviour of PVP lubricant in clearance space of the MHJB system, the modified form of Reynolds equation is numerically solved by using finite element method. Galerkin’s method is used to obtain the weak form of the governing equation. The system equation is solved by Gauss–Seidal iterative method to compute the unknown values of nodal oil film pressure. Subsequently, performance characteristics of bearing system are computed.

The simulated results reveal that the location of pressurised lubricant inlets significantly affects the oil film pressure distribution and may cause a significant effect on the characteristics of bearing system. Further, the use of PVP lubricant may significantly enhances the performance of the bearing system, namely.

The present work examines the influence of pocket orientation with respect to loading direction on the characteristics of PVP fluid lubricated MHJB system and provides vital information regarding the design of journal bearing system.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-07-2023-0241/