Mechanism and Machine Theory, 1977,Vol. 12, pp. 323-330, Pergamon Press.

Printed in Great Britain

A Variational Solution of Two Lobe Bearings

D. V. Singht
R. Sinhasan
and
A. Kumar
Abstract
Non-circular bearings are finding extensive use in high speed machinery as they
enhance shaft stability, reduce power losses and increase oil flow (as compared to
circular bearings), thus reducing bearing temperatures. Elliptical bearings are among the
commonly used non-circular bearings. In this paper, a solution using a variational
approach has been presented to analyse elliptical bearings. The results of an elliptical
bearing actually in use in a 110 mW turbo-set have been compiled.

1. Introduction
HYDRODYNAMICbearings operating at high speeds are often confronted with problems of
instability, known as whirl and whip. Instability may ruin not only the bearings but the machine
itself. Satisfactory dynamic characteristics are an essential requirement of a good bearing
design and bearings of non-circular cross-section hold good promise for applications where
bearing stiffness and stability are major considerations. In general, non-circular bearing
geometry enhances shaft stability and under proper conditions, this will also reduce power
losses and increase oil flow (as compared to circular bearings), thus reducing bearing temperatures. Among the non-circular sleeve bearings, elliptical and three lobe bearings are most
commonly used.
Extensive literature is available on circular bearings but the data available for the design of
non-circular bearings is comparatively scarce. The steady state load capacity and power losses
for elliptical bearings have been calculated by Pinkus[1, 2] using finite difference method.
Lund[3] developed the stability criterion for a multilobe bearing based on linearization of
Reynolds equation by small perturbation theory. Falkenhagen and Gunter[4] investigated the
stability of a vertical rotor and evaluated the hydrodynamic forces by finite difference analysis
and an approximate method. Some manufacturers of turbo-set generators use elliptical bearings
but their technical know-how of the design of bearings is not available in the literature. In this
paper, an elliptical bearing is analysed using a variational approach. Bearing load capacity
(Sommerfeld number), the attitude angle, and the four stiffnesses have been computed for
various eccentricity ratios.

2. Geometry of the Two Lobe Bearing

The elliptical bearing is actually not elliptical in cross-section but is usually made up of two
circular arcs, with their centres of curvature ObL and Obu, each displaced a distance, e,, from
the geometric center of the bearings as shown in Fig. 1. The offset ep is defined as the ellipticity
of the bearing. It is clear from the figure that for any given journal position Oj, the eccentricities
el, e2 and the attitude angles d~,, ~b2 of the two lobes will be different. The geometry of the two
tMechanicaland IndustrialEngineeringDepartment,Universityof Roorkee,Roorkee247667,India.

323

324

lobe

ObL
a.

Lower lobe -.-/

/"-~ ~

~<"5/

\'i e

Figure 1. Two-lobe bearing.

I

Figure 2. Geometric parameters.

lobes is shown in Fig. 2, and various geometric parameters can be mathematically related as
follows:
For the lower lobe
e, = [ep~+ e2 + 2eep

c o s ~]112

where e is the eccentricity of the bearing, and $ is the attitude angle.

Dividing both sides of the above equation by major axis clearance 6 . ,
~, = [Ep2+ ~z + 2~0 cos ~b]'n.

(1)

Also
~b,=tan'[
or

esin,
ep + e cos

[ ,s,n ]

~b, = tan-' ~p ~ ~ cos $ "

(2)

The film thickness h for the lower lobe is given by

h = C . + e,

cos [X + (~r/2 - ~b,)]

where X is coordinate measured from line of centers along the bearing arc nondimensionalized
with reference to the journal radius R.
Dividing the equation by CH,
H = 1 + ~, cos ( X + M),
where

,3,
Likewise, for the upper lobe.
e2 = [eo2 + e 2 - 2ee. cos 4q 'n
or
~2=[~2+

2_2~E. cosq~],n

(4)

325

and
4~2= 2Ir- [tan-I ( ep -esin~b
e cos ) ]
or

~b2=2~r-[tan-'(

,sin4~

)]

lip - - I[ C O S t ~

"

(5)

The film thickness h for the upper lobe is given by

h = Cu + e2cos [ X + ( ~ - ~2) ]
or

H = 1 + ~2 cos (X + A2),
where
(6)
3. Solution of the Fluid Flow Field
The flow field in the clearance space of a journal bearing is governed by the nondimensional
Reynolds equation

0 / 30P\ ~ / 39P
dH
ox~X -~'~)+'~H ~-~) : 6~-~

(7)

where Z is the coordinate along the axis of the bearing nondimensionalized with reference to R,
and P is the nondimensional pressure, the corresponding dimensional value of which can be
obtained by multiplying it by the factor (iztoR2/Cff) in which tt is viscosity and o~ is the spin
velocity of the journal.
The boundary and symmetry conditions are

P(X,Z)=O at X =0,02 /
P(X,Z)=O a t Z = _ + B ]

(8)

where B is the ratio of the bearing length and the journal diameter and 02, the extent of positive
pressure film respectively for the two lobes, is given by
0 2 = 2 + ~bl, for the lower lobe

(9)

and
02 = ~ b 2 - ~ ,

for the upper lobe.

(10)

By Galerkin's method, the solution of eqn (7) can be written in the following form of
orthogonal functions which satisfy the boundary conditions (8) and all the mathematical
requirements of the method[5-7].

P = ~'~ ~. G.,, sin(amX)cos(~,.Z)

n=l

(11)

m=l

where n and m are indices and G.,. are coefficients of series solution, am = m~rl02 and
v. = [(2n - 1)Ir]/2B.
In accordance with the method of Galerkin, the following orthogonality condition must be
satisfied

f ) fx ~ L(P) sin (a,X) cos (vjZ) dX dZ = 0

02)

326
where

- H ' [~

,.

dH
( a,.2 + v.2, sin ( a., X ) co s ( v. Z )] - 6 -d-~

(13)

in which H is given by eqns (3) and (6) for the lower and the upper lobe respectively.
Integrating eqn (12) between proper limits with the help of the appropriate expression for H
(eqns (3) or (6)) and eqn (13).

G,,.,A.i,. = B.,

(14)

A.~., = 3a,.I, + (- (a,. 2 + v.2))I2

(15)

where
(16)

B., = 613
and
I, =

f]L '-2dH
/-/ ~ cos (amX) cos (v.Z) sin (a,X) cos (v,Z) dX dZ
~O

/2

(17)

~O

H a sin (a,.X) cos (v.Z) sin (a,X) cos (v~Z) dX dZ

(18)

JZ~O .IX =O

f,2 dH sin(a,X) cos(v~Z)dX dZ.

13 =f.
Jz=oJ=odX

(19)

It may be noted that i and j are dummy indices for m and n respectively. The series given
by eqn (11) is fast converging and hence a relatively small number of terms give quite accurate
solution. Equation (14) is required to be solved for the lower and the upper lobes separately.
4. Fluid Film Forces
The nondimensional fluid film force is resolved in two components in the horizontal and
vertical directions, i.e. WXL or Wxv and WyL or Wgu for lower lobe and upper lobe
respectively which are given by

WxL or Wu =

2f'
~0

=O

=O

=0

WrL or Wrt, =

P(X, Z) cos X dX dZ

(20)

P(X, Z) sin X dX dZ.

(21)

Substituting in eqns (20) and (21) the expression for the hydrodynamic pressure (P) from
eqn (11) and integrating between proper limits

WxL or Wxu = ~ ~_~ G.,.L

n=l

Wy,. or WYu = ~
rl=l

(22)

ra=l

~ G.,.Is.

(23)

m=l

where
L=

202B~~'n(- 1)"+'
lj [cos
L ((m(_m++"02/~')z')
0 : - ~ - 1 + cos ((m(_m~L)O
Odlr)Ir)
- ~ ' ~ - 1]

5 202B ( - 1)"+' fsin ((m - Odlr)Ir)

sin ((m + Odrr)~')]

(24)
(25)

The dimensional load components can be obtained by multiplying the corresponding

nondimensional values by the factor (tzR4tdCH2).
Using eqns (21)-(25), the horizontal and vertical fluid-film reactions of the lower and the
upper bearing arcs can be calculated separately. Hence the resultant horizontal and vertical

327

load carrying capacities of the bearing Wx and Wv are given by

Wx = W x L - Wxt,

(26)

Wv = W v L - Wvu.

(27)

In the equilibrium position, Wx = 0. An iterative procedure gives the equilibrium locus of

the journal centre.
The Sommerfeld Number S is given by

w~

4B"

(28)

5. Fluid Film Stiffnesse$

If the journal center is disturbed from its equilibrium position Oj to A (Fig. 3), the
eccentricity ratio ~ in the disturbed position is given by
~a = [(~ + x sin $ - y cos $)2 + (x cos $ + y sin 4~)2]'n

(29)

where x and y are perturbation coordinates of point A, nondimensionalized with reference to

C..
Y

oo

Figure 3. Perturbation parameters.

It may be noted that the second term under the radical sign is very small (since x and y are
very small) in comparison to the first term, and therefore it can be neglected. The expression
for ~a may thus be approximated as,
ea = + x sin 4~- Y cos ~b.

(30)

The attitude angle ~ba in the disturbed position is given by

where A4~ is change in attitude angle

~a = ff x cos ~ + y sin 4~

(31)

The horizontal and vertical fluid film reactions in the disturbed position, identified by A in
Fig. 3 are functions of ~a and ~ba.

328
The nondimensional fluid-film stiffnesses S.., S~. Sy. and S . are defined as

s~

S~=
S~x
S.

==-

ow~ - - [ow~sin 4, + ow~cos 4,]

3x
L 0e
~
E

~32)

OWx [ _ ~ W ~

(33)

0-~- =

c o s 4, -

OW~sin4,]
04,

OW~= _ [OWy
~x

OWycos 4,]
t 0e sin 4,+ 0--~- E

OW~=[_~
0y

cos 4,-

0W~ sin 4,]

o--~-

(34)
(35)

'

Here the first subscript denotes the direction of force and the second subscript the direction
of displacement. The dimensional stiffness can be obtained by multiplying the nondimensional
stiffness by the factor (IzR%/Cu3). The partial derivatives of the above expressions can be
evaluated numerically by computing the fluid-film reactions at the perturbed position of the
journal center sufficiently close to the equilibrium position.
6. R e s u l t s a n d D i s c u s s i o n s

The results include the attitude angle 4,, the Sommerfeld Number S, the nondimensional
stiffnesses Sxx, Sxy, Syx, Sy~ (Table 1) for a typical bearing actually in use in a l l0mW
turbo-generator unit. The analysis is general and can be applied to any two-lobe or multilobe
hydrodynamic bearing. The non-dimensional results reported here are applicable to bearings
with ellipticity ratio 0.75 and aspect ratio, LID = 0.733 and cover the entire possible operating
range.
The equilibrium locus for vertical load support, Fig. 4; shows that for values of ~ greater
than 0.3, there is a sharp decrease in the attitude angle 4,. This will result in a sudden increase in
the eccentricity ratio of the lower lobe and also a corresponding sudden decrease in the
eccentricity of the upper lobe. Both these effects tend to sharply increase the vertical load
support of the fluid-film and its stiffness. For values of lower lobe eccentricity higher than 0.95,
there is a decrease in bearing eccentricity and comparatively larger decrease in the attitude
angle, Table I. The large value of the lower lobe eccentricity is primarily responsible for an
increase both in vertical load support and stiffness of the hydrodynamic fluid-film. For bearing
eccentricity range from ~ = 0.337 to 0.345, there are two attitude angles depending upon the
vertical load support. Results are computed up to lower lobe eccentricity, ~ = 0.975 beyond
which metal to metal contact in the lower lobe is likely to occur, which is commonly identified
as the failure of the hydrodynamic fluid-film.
Table 1. Results of a typical bearing ~p = 0.75; L/D = 0.733

0.050
0. I00
0.150
0,200
0.250
0.264
0.292
0.315
0.332
0.343
0.345
0.344
0.343
0.342
0.340
0.337

0.760
0.774
0.792
0.814
0.841
0.850
0.870
0.890
0.910
0.930
0.950
0.955
0.960
0.965
0.970
0.975

80.100
79.755
79.275
78.500
77.300
76.837
75.612
74.024
71.887
68.905
64.655
63.399
61.999
60.548
58.936
57.136

0.298
4.810
0.624
5.296
1.011
6.169
1.522
7.620
2.281
10.149
2.579
11.178
3.389
14.234
4.482
18.684
6.058
25.834
8.504
37.253
12.774 57.176
14.246 64.133
16.103 71.271
18.314 81.080
21.019 92.435
2 4 . 6 7 7 101.842

26.962
27.280
27.640
27.893
27.435
26.938
24.839
20.468
12.263
-3.190
-31.915
-40.460
-52.808
-66.422
-74.519
-88.050

-9.236
- 10.394
-12.771
- 17.257
-26.122
- 30.226
-42.775
-62.596
-97.186
-155.503
-265.587
-310.662
-353.817
-416.775
-501.022
-561.655

50.848
54,033
60,014
70.812
92,128
101.641
131.945
181.166
265.871
429.484
787.778
916.533
1109.689
1336.844
1566.105
1927.769

329
80-

75

o
3

7c

65

003

0'1

I I

,I
1.0

0 "15

0'2

F i g u r e 4. ~ vs e.
tO

tooO

Syy

6
S
I00
4

==

oF ,
0.03

. I
0"1

0-2

0'4

F i g u r e 5. S vs e.

O.Ol

o.i
e

i.o

F i g u r e 6. Stiffness vs e.

The stiffness results of this analysis are very similar to those reported in Tribology Hand
Book, 1973, The computed load capacity also checks with the Tribology Hand Book data.
7. C o n c l u s i o n s

The load capacity (Sommerfeld Number S) as computed in this analysis compares well with
Pinkus and Sternleicht[8] data and also with Tribology Hand Book[9] data. Comprehensive
stiffness data on two lobe bearings are not available anywhere in the literature but some data on
stiffness is available in the Tribology Hand Book 1973 [9]. The patterns of the stiffness curves
reported in this analysis match with those in the Tribology Hand Book.

330

References
1. O. Pinkus, Analysis and characteristics of the three-lobe bearings. Trans. ASME, J. Basic' Engng 81D, 49-55 (1959).
2. O. Pinkus, Analysis of elliptical bearing. Trans. ASME 78, %5-973 (1956).
3. J. Lund, Rotor-bearing dynamics design technology, Part VII: The three-lobe bearing and floating ring bearing.
Technical Report AFAPL-TR-64-45, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio (1968).
4. G. L. Falkenhagen, E. J. Gunter and F. T. Shuller, Stability and transient motion of a vertical three-lobe bearing system.
Trans. ASME, J. Engng. Ind. 94B, 665--677 (1972).
5. L. V. Kantrovich and V. I. Krylov, Approximate Methods of Higher Analysis. Interscience, New York (1958).
6. D. V. Singh, R. Sinhasan and N. K. Garg, Optimum extent of hydrodynamic film in journal bearing. Fifth A.I.M.T.D.R.
Conf. (1972).
7. D. V. Singh and R. Sinhasan, Stability and relative stability of journal bearing system. World Conf. Ind. Tribology,
Paper E6, New Delhi (1972).
8. O. Pinkus and B. Sternlicht, Theory of hydrodynamic lubrication. McGraw Hill, New York (1961).
9. M. J. Neale (Ed.), Tribology Handbook. pp. A-21. Butterworths, London (1973).

Solution en variations pour un pallet lisse elliptique en r4gime hydrodynamique.

D.V. SinFh, R.Sinhasan et Ashok Kumar
R4sum4 - Pour combattre l'instabilit4 dynamique des arbres tournant ~ haute vitesse dans louts
pallets, on choisit souvent des paliers lisses non-circulaires.

Parmi ces dernisrs, is palier

elliptique joult d'une certaine pr4dilection. Une m4thode de solution de l'~quation de Reynolds
pour ce type de palier est pr4sent4e.
Une s4rie oonvergente pour la distribution de is pression est chcisie et les coefficients
de la s4rie sont calcul4s par la m4thode Galerkine. La s4rie est integr4e dans la r4glon des
pressions positives pour obtenir la force r4sultante du palier. Une proo4dure it4rative permet
de d4terminer la position d'4quilibre du centre de la sole pour une charge donn4e. Le calcul
des perturbations est utilis4 pour trouver is rigidit4 du film lubrifiant. Les r4sultats
num4riques complets sont pr~sent~s pour le cas d'un palier d'excentrioit4 0.75 st dont le rapport
longueur diam~tre est 0.793.