An Investigation of Air Bearings for Gas Turbine Engines

Abstract

Due to ascending performance conditions and accompanying high rotational speeds, increasingly severe operating requirements will be imposed on main engine bearings and seals. Conventional oil lubrication techniques may not be adaptable to the next generation of small engines. This report presents a summary of the results of work performed during Phase I of an investigation of air bearings for gas turbine engines. Results of a study of the significant effects of engine size on the design feasibility of air bearings show that the engine size over a range of from 2 to 5 lb/sec design-point air flow is not a significant factor with respect to air-bearing feasibility. However, the types of compressor and turbine components selected as well as their arrangement will influence the feasibility.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1971
Accession Number
AD0894578

Entities

People

  • Peter W. Curwen
  • Warren D. Waldron
  • William E. Young

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Ceramic Materials
  • Computer Programs
  • Convection
  • Finishes
  • Friction
  • Gas Turbines
  • Heat Transfer
  • Mechanics
  • Pressure Distribution
  • Radial Turbines
  • Resonant Frequency
  • Rotor Blades (Turbomachinery)
  • Surface Properties
  • Turbine Components
  • Turbines
  • Turbogenerators
  • Turboshaft Engines

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Aerodynamics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Tribology (the study of the boundary interaction between sliding surfaces, lubrication, wear and friction).