A Fully Coupled Finite Element Formulation for Elastically Supported Foil Journal Bearings

摘要

Foil gas journal bearings consist of a compliant metal shell structure that supportsrna rigid journal by means of a gas film. The prediction of steady operating characteristicsrnsuch as minimum film thickness, load capacity, and drag require the coupled solution ofrnthe shell structure and the gas flow. A general fully coupled finite element approach isrnpresented. A single four noded finite element that incorporates the elastically supportedrnshell structure of the foil and the gas film modeled by a compressible Reynolds equationrnis developed. The resulting system of nonlinear finite elements is solved by the NewtonrnRaphson method.