Experimental investigation on the performance characteristics of tilting pad journal bearings for small L/D ratios

In the present paper an experimental investigation has been carried out on the steady state and dynamic performance characteristics of a tilting pad journal bearing. Pad temperature and oil temperature measurements have been made using a thermocouple measuring system. Coast down time experiments were conducted on a rotor bearing test rig, and the coefficient of friction of tilting pad journal bearing has been found out experimentally. The deceleration vs. speed diagrams have been drawn for different length to diameter (L/D) ratios and for different loading configurations. Stiffness and damping coefficients have been identified using an identification algorithm and the identified coefficients were compared with the theoretically predicted coefficients. © 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.