In the present study, a multiphysics simulation model was established to evaluate the effects of the fluid-thermal-structural interaction on the performance of multifoil gas lubrication thrust bearing. The thermal and elastic deformation mechanisms of multifoil bearings were studied in detail, and the effects of the preload ratio and foil structural parameters on the bearing performance were analyzed. The results show that the preload ratio determines the performance of the multifoil thrust bearing. A small preload helps the bearing maintain a low lift-off speed, whereas a large preload is helpful in improving the bearing load capacity. The thickness of the foil has a significant effect on the gas film pressure distribution and the down foil thickness plays a leading role in the load capacity.
PattnayakMPandeyRDuttJ. Performance behaviours of a self-acting gas journal bearing with a new bore design. Tribol Int2020; 151: 106418.
2.
HeshmatHShapiroWGrayS. Development of foil journal bearings for high load capacity and high speed whirl stability. J Lubr Tech1982; 104: 149–156.
3.
ZhangBQiSFengS, et al.An experimental investigation of a microturbine simulated rotor supported on multileaf gas foil bearings with backing bump foils. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part J: J Eng Trib2018; 232: 1169–1180.
4.
MichelHLiebichR. Challenges in validating a thermo-hydrodynamic gas foil bearing model. J Eng Gas Turbines Power2021; 143: 41029–41013.
5.
GuLGuenatESchiffmannJ. A review of grooved dynamic gas bearings. Appl Mech Rev2020; 72: 10802–10815.
6.
SamantaPMurmuNCKhonsariMM. The evolution of foil bearing technology. Tribol Int2019; 135: 305–323.
7.
BrucknerRJ. Performance of simple gas foil thrust bearings in air. In: Supercritical CO2 power cycle symposium, 2012, p.18016.
8.
GadAMKanekoS. A new structural stiffness model for bump-type foil bearings: application to generation II gas lubricated foil thrust bearing. J Tribol2014; 136: 216–223.
9.
ZhengYLaiTChenS, et al.Static characteristics of six pads multilayer protuberant foil thrust bearings. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part J: J Eng Trib2017; 231: 158–164.
10.
LiCDuJYaoY. Modeling of a multi-layer foil gas thrust bearing and its load carrying mechanism study. Tribol Int2017; 114: 172–185.
11.
GuYRenGZhouM. A fully coupled elastohydrodynamic model for static performance analysis of gas foil bearings. Tribol Int2020; 147: 106297.
12.
TakabiJKhonsariMM. On the thermally-induced seizure in bearings: a review. Tribol Int2015; 91: 118–130.
13.
ŻywicaGBagińskiPKicińskiJ. Selected operational problems of high-speed rotors supported by gas foil bearings. J Eng Mech2017; 37: 339–346.
14.
SamantaPMurmuNKhonsariM.Some fundamental issues in foil bearings. In: Proceedings of the 6th national symposium on rotor dynamics, 2021, pp.317–325. Springer.
15.
YuGYuHYuW, et al.Numerical analysis of aerodynamic lubricated double-decked protuberant foil thrust bearing. Journal of Advanced Mechanical Design, Systems, and Manufacturing2019; 13: JAMDSM0056.
16.
PapangeloACiavarellaM. Can wear completely suppress thermoelastic instabilities?J Tribol2020; 142: 51501–6.
17.
PapangeloACiavarellaM. The effect of wear on thermoelastic instabilities (TEI) in bimaterial interfaces. Tribol Int2020; 142: 105977.
18.
SalehiMSwansonEHeshmatH. Thermal features of compliant foil bearings—theory and experiments. J Tribol2001; 123: 566–571.
19.
SimKKimTH. Thermohydrodynamic analysis of bump-type gas foil bearings using bump thermal contact and inlet flow mixing models. Tribol Int2012; 48: 137–148.
20.
LeeDKimD. Thermo-hydrodynamic analyses of bump air foil bearings with detailed thermal model of foil structures and rotor. J Tribol2010; 132: 21704–21712.
21.
LeeDKimD. Three-dimensional thermo-hydrodynamic analyses of Rayleigh step air foil thrust bearing with radially arranged bump foils. Tribol Trans2011; 54: 432–448.
22.
LeeDKimDSadashivaRP. Transient thermal behavior of preloaded three-pad foil bearings: modeling and experiments. J Tribol2015; 133: 021703.
23.
KumarJKhamariDSBeheraSK, et al.Influence of slip-flow phenomenon on thermohydrodynamic behaviour of gas foil thrust bearings. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part J: J Eng Trib 1994-19962021; 208-210: 135065012110029.
24.
LiuXLiCDuJ, et al. Thermal characteristics study of the bump foil thrust gas bearing. Appl Sci2021; 11: 4311.
25.
KanQJacobsPAKeepJA, et al.A fluid-structure-thermal model for bump-type foil thrust bearings. Tribol Int2018; 121: 481–491.
26.
SamantaPKhonsariMM. On the thermoelastic instability of foil bearings. Tribol Int2018; 121: 10–20.
27.
PapadopoulosCIKaiktsisLFillonM. Computational fluid dynamics thermohydrodynamic analysis of three-dimensional sector-pad thrust bearings with rectangular dimples. J Tribol2014; 136: 249–256.
28.
CharitopoulosAFillonMPapadopoulosCI. Numerical investigation of parallel and quasi-parallel slider bearings operating under thermoelastohydrodynamic (TEHD) regime. Tribol Int 2020, 149: 105517.
29.
ChalkiopoulosMCharitopoulosAFillonM, et al.Effects of thermal and mechanical deformations on textured thrust bearings optimally designed by a THD calculation method. Tribol Int2020; 148: 106303.
30.
QinKGollanRJJahnIH. Application of a wall function to simulate turbulent flows in foil bearings at high rotational speeds. Tribol Int2017; 115: 546–556.
IordanoffI. Analysis of an aerodynamic compliant foil thrust bearing: method for a rapid design. J Tribol1999; 121: 816–822.
34.
QiSHoYSGengH, et al.Theoretical prediction of the lift-off speed in aerodynamic compliant foil journal bearings. Proc ASME Turbo Expo2010: 383–388. DOI: 10.1115/GT2010-23267.
35.
RiekenMMahnerMSchweizerB. Thermal optimization of air foil thrust bearings using different foil materials. J Turbomach 2020, 142: 101003.
36.
LehnAMahnerMSchweizerB. A thermo-elasto-hydrodynamic model for air foil thrust bearings including self-induced convective cooling of the rotor disk and thermal runaway. Tribol Int2018; 119: 281–298.
HollandSWangXChenJ, et al.Multiscale characterization of microstructures and mechanical properties of Inconel 718 fabricated by selective laser melting. J Alloys Compd2019; 784: 182–194.
39.
DellaCorteCRadilKCBrucknerRJ, et al.Design, fabrication, and performance of open source generation I and II compliant hydrodynamic gas foil bearings. Tribol Trans2008; 51: 254–264.
