New Test Facility for Fluid Film Journal Bearings

Abstract

This paper describes a new experimental rig to test journal fluid film bearings. It has been operating at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) in Cleveland, Ohio since August 2006. The rig can apply total radial loads of up to 133,000 N (30,000 lbs) and can rotate the shaft to speeds up to 13,000 RPM. The test bearing used in the initial runs has a diameter of 68 mm and a length of 38 mm. Two such bearings are used to support the total load. The shaft is also supported by two fluid film bearings. The rig is well instrumented for the measurement of oil flow, oil inlet and outlet temperatures, bearing sleeve circumferential temperatures and the oil temperatures in oil supply pockets. The shaft position is monitored by proximity probes. Vibration levels at four locations are also displayed and recorded. Preliminary tests of wave bearings running at 8,000 RPM and loads to 20,000 N (4,500 lbs) show a good agreement between the test and prediction data.