Evaluation of Static and Dynamic Characteristics of Bump Metal Mesh Foil Bearing

Abstract

Gas foil bearings, which are oil-free and exhibit low energy losses, are used in high-speed rotating machinery. Because gas is used as the working fluid, there is a need to improve damping performance using support structures. Additionally, the support structure, which becomes increasingly complex shaft performance, needs to be simplified. This study proposes a new bump mesh foil bearing focusing on the support structure and experimentally verifies its static and dynamic characteristics. The bump metal mesh foil bearing is a simple structure that combines a bump shape and metal mesh. Static load and hammering tests were conducted to evaluate the static characteristics, and the frictional torque and vibration at high-speed rotation were measured to evaluate the dynamic characteristics. The bump metal mesh foil bearing exhibited excellent damping performance owing to the friction damping caused by the bump shape and metal mesh; however, the rigidity of the bump metal mesh foil bearing was reduced. The bump metal mesh foil bearing exhibited the same level of lifting performance as the bump foil bearing, and vibration reduction at high-speed rotation was confirmed. Thus, the combination of the bump foil and metal mesh bearings yielded good results in terms of vibration characteristics.

Keywords

• gas foil bearing
• journal bearing
• metal mesh
• bump foil
• damping
• vibration characteristics