Theoretical and experimental investigations on load-carrying capacity of separated gas foil thrust bearing

The operation of separated gas foil thrust bearing (SGFTB) is generally vulnerable to the tilting angle of rotor thrust disc. The optimal structural parameters of SGFTB are obtained by L₄₉(6⁴) orthogonal design. A modified Reynolds equation is developed to investigate the bearing performances of SGFTB with/without considering the tilting angle. A test bench is designed to test the bearing performances of SGFTB. Results indicate the axial bearing forces and friction torque increase and result in an uneven distribution of gas film pressure on the surface of the fan pad when the rotor thrust disc is tilted. The optimized design of SGFTB achieves the desired bearing effect.