Abstract
This paper describes the fluttering characteristics of the upper pad in a tilting pad journal bearing(6-pad, LOP type) using a steam turbine. In order to investigate the phenomena of the upper pad fluttering experimentally, the absolute vibration of the upper pads, the relative vibration between bearing and shaft and the circumferential distribution of the film thickness are measured under the different values of supply oil flow rate, shaft speed and bearing load. It can be known that the fluttering mechanism of the upper pads has a tendency of the self-excited vibration from the study of fluttering frequencies and amplitudes with the change of shaft speed. Furthermore, it is observed that the incipient upper pad fluttering velocity is increased by the increase of oil supply flow rate and the fluttering amplitude of the upper pads is increased by the decrease of the ell flow rate and by the increase of the bearing load.
