Study on Oil Flows in Submerged Multi-Pad Journal Bearings

Abstract

In order to evaluate influence of pad spacing and pad shape on the behaviour of Taylor vortices in submerged multi-pad journal bearings, fluid film flow in bearing clearance and cavity flow between pads were visualized experimentally. Critical Taylor number for the film flow decreased with an increase of pad spacing irrespective of pad shape. Two-dimensional cavity flow field between pads were measured by Particle Image Velocimetry.