Air Wave Bearings for Turbine Engines
Abstract
The University of Toledo proposes to pursue the development of an ~air wave bearing~ technology for turbine engines. The unique technology developed at the University of Toledo alleviates the need for oil/fuel lubrication or thermal management systems increasing the design space, reducing engine weight, lowering cost and increasing reliability. There are two types of wave bearings: journal bearings to support radial loads and thrust bearings for axial loads. The journal bearing consists of a journal and a sleeve that features a shallow wave surface profile causing the shaft to spin stable, even under unsteady loading. The thrust bearing consists of a rotational plate and one or two stationary wave thrust plates for unidirectional or bidirectional axial loads, respectively. The load performance of a thrust bearing and start-stop capability of a ceramic journal wave bearing have already been demonstrated under AFRL and Navy programs. We propose a 3-year project to further develop the concept and establish the University of Toledo as a center of excellence for oil-free bearings. The effort will focus on designing and testing wave bearings that could replace the rolling element bearings of a turbine engine. A wave journal bearing and a wave thrust bearing that meet the boundary conditions specific to a turbine engine will be designed. The load capacity of both types of bearings will be investigated theoretically and experimentally. The behavior of the journal bearing during engine turn on and shut down will be also experimentally investigated. The load capacity of the journal bearing will be measured before and after the turn on and shut down cycles. Elastic elements required to maximize the dynamics performance of the journal bearings will be also designed. The dynamic stiffness and damping coefficients ofthe elastic elements will be measured.After the bearing tests are completed, a rotor bearing configuration replicating the dynamic conditions of an engine will be developed. Theoretical and experimental rotordynamic investigations for three different rotor - bearing configurations will be performed: rotor supported by rolling element bearings (baseline), rotor supported by arolling element bearing and a wave journal bearing and rotor supported by journal andthrust wave bearings.These efforts will require the design, retrofit or development of four test rigs for therelevant conditions: one for measuring load capacity of a journal bearing, one formeasuring load capacity of a thrust bearing, one for rotordynamics tests of three rotorbearing configurations and a fourth for measuring the stiffness and damping coefficientsof elastic supports.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 26, 2019
- Source ID
- N000141912743
Entities
People
- Nicoleta Ene
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Toledo