Experimental measurement of squeeze flow in bearings

• Main Author: Lim, Fabian Fang Ming.
• Other Authors: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/53953
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Abstract This project investigates the squeeze film effect of varying film thicknesses above a bearing with spiral grooved designs. Spiral groove generates pressure across the bearing. With a pressurized film, it gives the bearing a load stiffness and load capacity. The spiral grooved bearing is designed by Muijderman, where the study of this experiment aims to reproduce and investigate the results of the above researcher. Experimental investigations were carried out for two different types of bearings. Namely an extended spiral groove bearing (SGB) and a float disc and driver set SGB. Load capacity and pressure generation varies with the number of spiral grooves the bearing has. Hence a 10 and 15 grooved bearing were employed in this experiment. The float disc and drive SGB aims to analyze the carrying capacity of the SGB. The experiments were conducted with varying speeds from 300rpm to 2400rpm. In addition to the squeeze film effect, centrifugal effect at various speeds and fluid film thickness were also evaluated. Results showed that pressure generated decreases with increasing film thickness, and generation ceases at a certain magnitude of film thickness. The fluid used was a solution of glycerol and water, to mimic the viscosity and density of blood.