Performance of hydrostatic thrust pad bearings operating with electrically conducting lubricant

Abstract

This paper theoretically investigates the influence of transverse magnetic field and recess shape on the performance of hydrostatic circular thrust pad bearing. The lubricant is assumed to be electrically conducting in nature. Navier-Stokes equation is modified by adding Lorentz force, so as to describe the flow of electrically conducting lubricant between bearing surfaces. A source code based on FE formulation of modified Reynolds equation is developed to compute the numerically simulated results. The bearing performance is presented in terms of load carrying capacity, fluid film stiffness and damping coefficient as a function of magnetic field (Hartmann number) and recess shape. Annular and elliptical recessed bearing operating with electrically conducting lubricants, are observed to be provide maximum increase in load carrying capacity (43.25%) and damping coefficient (67.7%) respectively. © 73rd Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Annual Meeting and Exhibition 2018. All rights reserved.