Thrust bearings

Support the axial thrust of both horizontal as well as vertical

shafts

Functions are to prevent the shaft from drifting in the axial
direction and to transfer thrust loads applied on the shaft

Vertical thrust bearings also need to support the weight of
the shaft and any components attached to it

The moving surface exerted against a thrust bearing may be
the area of the end of the shaft or the area of a collar
attached at any point to the shaft
Types of thrust bearings
Plain thrust: Consists of a stationary flat bearing
surface against which the flat end of a rotating
shaft is permitted to bear

ROTOR
Bearing surface
Flat end of rotor
Axial movement
Thrust bearing- flat land type
They handle light loads for simple positioning of rotors
They are usually used in conjunction with other types of
thrust bearings
They carry 10 to 20% of the overall axial load
Bearing surface sometimes incorporated with oil grooves that
help store and distribute oil over the surface
ROTOR
Oil grooves for
storing and
distributing oil
over the surface
Thrust bearing- step type
Step bearing: Consists of a raised or stepped bearing surface
upon which the lower end of a vertical shaft or spindle rotates
The entire assembly is submerged in lubricant
Stepped bearings are either designed to undergo
hydrodynamic lubrication or are lubricated hydrostatically
(external pump)
ROTOR
Bearing
Wedge formation or
pressurized oil
supply
Thrust bearing- hydrostatic type
These depend on an external pump to provide oil under
pressure to form a load-bearing film between surfaces
Used in equipment with extremely low speeds as a
hydrodynamic film cannot form
ROTOR
Oil under pressure,
supplied by pump
Bearing surface
Thrust bearing- collar type
Collar type
Shaft
Bearing
surface
Collar
Shaft moves in axial
direction too
Shaft rotates
Loads are borne by the
bearing surface that comes in
contact with the collar which is
attached to the shaft
Oil supply
Thrust bearing- tilting pad type (Michell type)
The surfaces are at an angle to each other
One surface is usually stationary while the
other moves
Undergoes hydrodynamic lubrication,
therefore formation of a wedge of lubricant
under pressure
The amount of pressure build up depends on
the speed of motion and viscosity
The pressure takes on axial loads

Thrust bearing- Tilting pad type
Shaft
Collar
Tilting pad rotates
around the pivot (angle
of tilt varies)
Pivot
Axial loads from machinery being driven
In this case thrust from propeller
Oil wedge
Direction of
rotation
Back thrust from water to propeller causes
axial loading on the shaft
Axial loads are opposed by pressure buildup
in the wedge
Gives a damping effect
Passes on thrust to the ship
Bearing
plate
Propeller
Pushes ship forward
Tilting thrust bearings- basic geometry
U
h
1
h

h
2
X

Z

h
1
= distance of separation at leading edge
h
2
= distance of separation at trailing edge
U = velocity of lower pad in the x direction
B = bearing breadth
The film thickness h at any point is given by:
B
x
h h h h ) (
2 1 1
=
Leading
edge
Trailing
edge
B
x
Height ratios
) 1 (
2
1
K
h
h
+ =
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
B
x
K K
h
h
1
2
3
o
h
h h
U 6
dx
dp
q =
U
h
1
h

h
2
X

Z

Let
or
, therefore
The expression for pressure gradient was derived earlier as
Where p is the pressure
q is the coefficient of dynamic
viscosity
h
o
is the separation distance at max.
pressure
U is the velocity of the bottom
surface
Top surface is stationary
2
2 1
h
h h
K

=
Making the equation non-dimensional
3
2
3
2 2
) / 1 (
) / 1 (
6
h B Kx K
h B Kx K h
U
dx
dp
+
+
= q
3 2
2
2
) / 1 ( ) / 1 ( 6 B Kx K
Adx
B Kx K
dx
dp
U
h
+

+
=
q
Let A = h
o
/h
2
such that h
o
= Ah
2

Substituting this and the value of h in terms of x we get
On rearranging we get:
Let x* = x/B, a dimensionless length, so that
*
3 * 2 *
*
2
2
) 1 ( ) 1 ( 6
dx
Kx K
A
Kx K
dx
dp
U
h
+

+
=
q
Pressure distribution equation
) 12 ...( dx
) Kx K 1 (
A
) Kx K 1 (
dx
dp
*
3 * 2 *
*
*
+

+
=
Now h
2
2
/UqB has the dimensions of (pressure)
-1
so it is possible to
write (h
2
2
/6UqB)p as p*, the non-dimensional pressure. The equation
therefore becomes
This is Reynolds equation in non-dimensional form applied to
inclined pads. Integration gives the pressure distribution. On
integration we get:
) 13 ...( C
) Kx K 1 (
A
) Kx K 1 (
dx
p
2 * *
*
*
+
+

+
=
Applying boundary conditions
C
) Kx K 1 (
A
) Kx K 1 (
dx
p
2 * *
*
*
+
+

+
=
A and C are constants of integration. In order to evaluate them the value of
pressure is required at two specific positions. This, in the case of a pad, is
taken as the ambient pressure at the leading and trailing edges, where the
pressure curve starts and stops. These pressures are usually considered as
zero. Therefore the conditions are:
p = 0 at x = 0, and x = B
Non-dimensionalizing we get, p* = 0 at x* = 0 and x* = 1 (since x* = x/B)
First putting p* = 0 at x* = 0, we get:
C
) K 1 ( K 2
A
) K 1 ( K
1
0
2
+
+

+
=
Obtaining the constants of integration
C
K 2
A
K
1
0 + =
K 2
) K 1 ( 2
A
+
+
=
) K 2 ( K
1
C
+

=
Then putting p* = 0 at x* = 1, we get:
The above two equations can be solved to give:
and
Thus:
)
`

+
+

+
+
+
+
=
2 * *
*
) Kx K 1 (
K 1
) Kx K 1 (
K 2
1
) K 2 ( K
1
p
Which can be simplified to give:
) 14 ...(
) K 2 ( ) Kx K 1 (
) x 1 ( Kx
p
2 *
* *
*
+ +

=
Maximum pressure
) 2 (
) 1 ( 2
2
K
K
A
h
h
o
+
+
= =
*
o
o
x
K 2
K 1
B
x
=
+
+
=
The max. dimensionless pressure p
o
* occurs when dp/dx =
0, h = h
o
, and x = x
o.

Now,
Therefore
and
) K 2 )( K 1 ( 4
K
p
*
o
+ +
=
Integration of the pressure across the bearing gives the load carried per unit
length, W/L


So which can be defined as the non-

dimensional load W*.

Thus

Which reduces to
Load carried
*
B
0
1
0
*
2
'
o
2
dx p
h
B U 6
pdx
L
W
} }
q
= =
}
=
1
0
* *
2
2
2
6
.
dx p
L B U
h W
q
|
.
|

\
|
+

+
=
K 2
2
K
) K 1 ( log
K
1
W
e
*
1
0
*
* 2
*
e
2
*
x
) K 2 ( K
) K 1 (
) Kx K 1 )( K 2 ( K
) Kx K 1 ( log
K
K
1
W
+

+
+ +

=
(as x* = x/B)
Tilting pad bearing- expression for load
2
2
2
*
.
6
/
B
h
U
L W
W
q
=
L W
U
W
B
h
/
) 6 (
2 *
2
q
=
Now
Therefore
) 14 ...(
/ 2
2 ) 1 ( log 6
2 / 1
2
L W
U
K K
K
K B
h
e
q
)
`

|
.
|

\
|
+

+
=
This equation was first derived by Reynolds for a fixed
inclined surface
Height variation with pivot point
The ratio h
1
/h
2
= (1+K) is determined by the position of the
pivot point
Velocity U
h
1
h

h
2
X

Z

Pivot point
Upper pad rotates around the pivot point
The position of the pivot
point is found by taking
moments about the
leading edge.
For stability it should be
at the center of pressure
x