For sliding bearings, which are often used in high-speed rotating equipment, it is important to design them so that unexpected shaft vibration does not occur, and evaluation methods using RD (Rotor Dynamics) and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) have been studied. RD is used in many design sites because it is relatively easy to use. However, local conditions such as oil flow and pressure are averaged, it is difficult to analyze oil whip caused by oil damping characteristics. On the other hand, CFD can evaluate more complicated phenomena by grasping the three-dimensionally distributed oil flow. However, it is difficult to apply it to the design development process because it requires a huge analysis cost such as software, hardware, and the period required for evaluation. In this study, we developed a simulation method using OpenFOAM, which is a CFD solver of OSS (Open Source Software), for the purpose of reducing the analysis cost and investigating the possibility of evaluation by CFD. Then, to confirm the validity of the method, an analysis considering the multiphase flow of oil and air, and an analysis considering the whirling excitation of the shaft were performed. This research was conducted as part of the activities of the Multidisciplinary Dynamics Design Research Subcommittee of the Turbomachinery Society.
