Effects of thermal and mechanical deformations on textured thrust bearings optimally designed by a THD calculation method

Michail Chalkiopoulos (1) , Anastasios Charitopoulos (2) , Michel Fillon (2) , Christos Papadopoulos (1)

1 School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering [Athens]
2 TriboLub - Mécanique des interfaces lubrifiées [Institut Pprime]

A performance optimisation study of a thrust bearing with surface texturing has been addressed. Bearing response calculations have been performed with a thermohydrodynamic modelling approach. A THD-optimal bearing design has been calculated, and a sensitivity analysis has been performed. The optimal design has been evaluated utilising a thermoelastohydrodynamic model, in order to quantify the effects of thermal deformations on tribological characteristics, and a sensitivity analysis demonstrated a small difference on the parameter set of the optimal geometry. However, bearing performance is substantially affected by thermal deformations, leading to a reduction of thrust load by 13% and an increase of friction coefficient by 10%. The presented results highlight the importance of modelling thermal deformation on the design of textured thrust bearings.

Mots clés: Parallel surface thrust bearings; Surface texturing; Optimisation; TEHD regime

Domaines: Physique [physics]; Mécanique [physics]; Génie mécanique [physics.class-ph]

Michail Chalkiopoulos, Anastasios Charitopoulos, Michel Fillon, Christos Papadopoulos. Effects of thermal and mechanical deformations on textured thrust bearings optimally designed by a THD calculation method. Tribology International, 2020, 148 (2), pp.106303. ⟨10.1016/j.triboint.2020.106303⟩. ⟨hal-03085002⟩