Abstract
A computer-aided design procedure suitable for pocket elliptical journal bearings for turbomachineries is proposed. After the description of their geometry and manufacturing, the driving geometric parameters characteristic of the pocket bearing are identified together with the design variants that influence their choice, like supply groove layout and the axial size of the pocket. The concept of journal mobility plot, capable to ease the post-processing of results and useful in journal vibration monitoring, is adapted to pocket elliptical bearings and, in general, to non-circular bearings. The proposed design evaluation includes a calculation sequence involving geometric parameters, FEM simulation and the calculation of proper performance indicators, from which the global performance of the bearing is finally computed.
