Analysis of Spiral-Grooved Gas Journal Bearings by the Narrow-Groove Theory and the Finite Element Method At Large Eccentricities

A finite groove approach (FGA), based on the finite element method (FEM), is used for analyzing the static and dynamic behavior of spiral-grooved aerodynamic journal bearings at different eccentricities, number of grooves, and compressibility numbers. The results of the FGA are compared with the narrow-groove theory (NGT) solutions. For the rotating-groove case, a novel time-periodic solution method is presented for computing the quasi-steady-state and dynamic pressure profiles. The new method offers the advantage of avoiding time-consuming transient integration, while resolving a finite number of grooves. The static and dynamic solutions of the NGT and FGA approach are compared, and they show good agreement, even at large eccentricities (⁠ε=0.8⁠) and high compressibility numbers (Λ = 40). Stability maps at different eccentricities are presented. At certain operation points, a stability decrease toward larger eccentricities is observed. The largest stability deviations of the NGT from the FGA solutions occur at large groove angle, low number of grooves, and large compressibility numbers.