Effects of structural parameters on lubrication performance of trapezoidal sliding beam air foil bearings

doi:10.3785/j.issn.1008-973X.2026.01.013

Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science)

2026, Vol. 60

Issue (1): 138-147 DOI: 10.3785/j.issn.1008-973X.2026.01.013

Effects of structural parameters on lubrication performance of trapezoidal sliding beam air foil bearings

Yixuan HAN1(

),Yang WU1,Chenyun GU1,Weijun FENG2,Qi AN1,*(

)

1. School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
2. Suzhou Changheng Precision Metal Die Casting Co. Ltd, Suzhou 215534, China

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Abstract

A finite element model of top foil for trapezoidal sliding beam air foil bearings was established based on the Kirchhoff theory, and mechanical analysis of the sliding beam was carried out in combination with the large deformation equation of the beam and the principle of minimum potential energy. The deformation calculation of the top foil, the sliding beam and the frame structure around the sliding beam was realized. The Reynolds equation was introduced to develop a fluid-structure interaction calculation model for analyzing the lubrication performance. Through MATLAB programming, the air film pressure, air film thickness, bearing friction torque and end leakage flow rate were calculated, and the reliability of the calculation model was verified by experiments. Combined with specific cases, the influences of structural parameters including standard air film thickness, sliding beam length, sliding beam width, sliding beam slope, bottom foil thickness and top foil thickness on the lubrication performance of the bearing were studied. Results showed that with the increase of initial clearance between the bearing and the rotor, the dynamic pressure region of the air film decreased, the maximum pressure of the air film rose, the friction torque decreased, and the end leakage flow rate increased. Discontinuity in the support of the top foil by the sliding beam led to discontinuity in the distribution of air film pressure and air film thickness. Adjusting the sliding beam size and the bottom foil thickness changed the support stiffness of the sliding beam to the top foil. When the support stiffness increased, the thickness of the air film decreased and the maximum pressure of the air film increased.

Key words： sliding beam air foil bearing mechanical modeling fluid-structure interaction lubrication performance numerical calculation

Received: 04 November 2024 Published: 15 December 2025

CLC:

TH 133.35

Corresponding Authors: Qi AN E-mail: 19921871581@163.com;anqi@ecust.edu.cn

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Cite this article:

Yixuan HAN,Yang WU,Chenyun GU,Weijun FENG,Qi AN. Effects of structural parameters on lubrication performance of trapezoidal sliding beam air foil bearings. Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science), 2026, 60(1): 138-147.

URL:

https://www.zjujournals.com/eng/10.3785/j.issn.1008-973X.2026.01.013 OR https://www.zjujournals.com/eng/Y2026/V60/I1/138

结构参数对梯形滑梁式空气箔片轴承润滑性能的影响

以梯形滑梁式空气箔片轴承为研究对象，依据Kirchhoff理论建立顶箔有限元模型，结合梁的大变形方程和最小位能原理对滑梁进行力学分析，实现对顶箔、滑梁及滑梁周围框架结构的形变计算. 引入Reynolds方程构建流固耦合计算模型，用于分析润滑性能. 通过MATLAB编程实现对气膜压力、气膜厚度、轴承摩擦力矩和端泄量的计算，并通过试验验证计算模型的可靠性. 结合具体算例，针对标准气膜厚度、滑梁长度、滑梁宽度、滑梁斜率、底箔厚度和顶箔厚度对轴承润滑性能的影响进行数值研究. 结果表明，随着轴承与转子初始间隙的增大，气膜动压区域减小，气膜的最大压力上升，摩擦力矩减小，端泄量增大；滑梁对顶箔的支撑不连续，导致气膜压力和气膜厚度分布不连续；调整滑梁尺寸和底箔厚度会改变滑梁对顶箔的支撑刚度，当滑梁对顶箔的支撑刚度增大时，气膜厚度减小，气膜的最大压力增大.

关键词： 滑梁式空气箔片轴承, 力学建模, 流固耦合, 润滑性能, 数值计算

Fig.1 Basic structure of sliding beam air foil bearing

Fig.2 Structural parameters of sliding beam foil

Fig.3 Structure of bearing end face and its parameters

Fig.4 Rectangular thin plate unit

Fig.5 Simplified schematic of sliding beam foil

Fig.6 Displacement coupling of connecting beams

Fig.7 Schematic of contact between sliding beam and shaft sleeve

Fig.8 Geometric relationship of sliding beam displacements

Fig.9 Flowchart of numerical solution for lubrication performance parameters of foil bearing

Fig.10 Photographs of sliding beam foil bearing and test stand, and schematic of test principle

Tab.1 Bearing structure parameters

Fig.11 Comparison of experimental and numerical results of friction torque

Fig.12 Air film pressure distribution and corresponding thickness distribution

Fig.13 Effect of standard air film thickness on bearing lubrication performance

Fig.14 Effect of sliding beam sizes on pressure and thickness distributions of air film at λ=0

Fig.15 Effect of foil thickness on pressure and thickness distributions of air film at λ=0


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