Tech Lic. Transactions of Machine Elements Division. Lund 1991

Abstract:

The flat spiral groove thrust bearing has been the subject of this study. A finite element program for the calculation of the true pressure distribution in the bearing has been developed. The finite element method has been found to be very suitable for the analysis of the bearing in question.

A study of the aspects of cavitation within the individual grooves has been performed, and a new design of the bearing, making the bearing performance independent of the mostly unknown cavitation pressure, even with small numbers of grooves. Using the new design, the performance of the flat spiral groove thrust bearing with small numbers of grooves can be kept close to the performance with large number of grooves. Results valid even for small numbers of grooves have been presented.

The relative power loss of the flat spiral groove thrust bearing has been found to be very low compared to, for example, the sector-shaped tilting pad thrust bearing. The flat spiral groove thrust must considered an attractive alternative to tilting pad thrust bearings, and also to hydrostatic thrust bearings, since no external high pressure oil supply is required as is the case for the hydrostatic bearing.

An experimental investigation has been carried out. The agreement between the experimental and the theoretical results is very good.