Estimating the Severity of Shaft

Vibrations Within Fluid Film

J. D. McHugh
General Electric Company,
Schenectady, N.Y. 12345
Journal Bearings
Proximity probes are being widely used in turbomachinery to measure the am-
plitude of shaft vibrations within fluid film bearings. There has been, however, little
information available for judging the degree of severity of such vibrations. The
present paper provides an analysis which correlates shaft vibration amplitude with
some basic bearing parameters—allowable dynamic load on the bearing, its size,
geometry, and operating conditions. Curves are provided for several bearing
geometries which can be used for a rational estimate of allowable shaft vibration
levels.

Introduction Discussion of Analysis Assumptions and Limitations

Proximity probes are being widely used to measure the
amplitude of shaft vibrations within the fluid-film journal
bearings commonly used in turbomachinery. The severity of
such shaft vibrations is frequently judged by arbitrary
vibration charts or formulas of unknown origin. The purpose
of the present paper is to present an alternative, rational
method for estimating shaft vibration severity. It is based on
the premise that shaft vibration severity can be judged by the
level of dynamic bearing load created by shaft motion. The
coupling between shaft motion and force is provided by the
linearized spring and damping coefficients of the bearing fluid
film.
The basic assumptions are 1) dynamic bearing load is the
significant measure of vibration severity, 2) the bearing fluid
film dynamic behavior can be adequately represented by a set
of eight linearized spring and damping coefficients, 3) the
journal center orbit is an ellipse (or circle) relative to the
bearing housing, and 4) the orbital frequency is synchronous
with shaft rotational speed. Figure 6 pictures a shaft elliptical
orbit.
It is a common practice to choose the bearing locations for
making vibration measurements on machinery. The American
TWO AXIAL-GROOVE

Approach to Analysis
It is presumed that the shaft center locus (orbit) within the
bearing is an ellipse of known dimensions and orientation
with respect to the steady load vector. The time-dependent
displacements of the shaft center in the two coordinate
directions can be related to the elliptical orbit parameters.
Bearing dynamic force in each coordinate direction is
determined from shaft displacements, velocities, and bearing
coefficients. The instantaneous individual force components
are combined to give the maximum dynamic radial force. The
resulting equations are expressed in a nondimensional form.
Fig. 1
For the particular case when the major and minor axes of
the ellipse are equal, the shaft orbit is a circle. The number of
parameters in the equations is reduced. For a given bearing ELLIPTICAL
geometry, a single curve can then be plotted of an amplitude PRELOAD RATIO 8 - f
parameter (a measure of vibrational load severity) versus ECCENTRICITY RATIO « - - |
bearing eccentricity ratio. Curves are presented for several
bearing designs widely used in turbomachinery and pictured
in Figs. 1-5.

Contributed by the Lubrication Division and presented at the ASME/ASLE

Lubrication Conference, Washington, D.C., October 5-7, 1982, of THE
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS. Manuscript received by the
Lubrication Division, March 3, 1982. Paper No. 82-Lub-l. Fig. 2

3 0 6 / V o l . 105, JULY 1983 Transactions of the AS M E

Copyright © 1983 by ASME
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 THREE-LOBE
PRELOAD RATIO 8«-{l
ECCENTRICITY RATIO « • £
Fig. 3
OFFSET CYLINDRICAL
PRELOAD RATIO 8 * £
ECCENTRICITY RATIO «••§
Fig. 4
Petroleum Institute (API) [1], for example, states the radial
proximity probes should be mounted within 75 mm (3 in.) of
the bearing. It is a widely accepted, implicit assumption that
bearing dynamic load is a good measure of vibration severity.
If the bearings are located at shaft nodal points, however,
this assumption is no longer valid. Similarly, in some cases
structural resonances may be excited even though bearing
dynamic forces are very low. These situations are clearly
excluded from the present analysis.
Current rotor dynamics technology makes widespread use
of the linearized bearing coefficients. The curves of the
present paper are based on published data [2] and [3].
Theoretically, the linearized bearing coefficients are restricted
to infinitesimally small perturbations about a steady-state
position. Practically, however, the coefficients are believed
useful at shaft amplitudes up to perhaps 40 percent of the
bearing clearance [4]. Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of
these bearing coefficients.
The response of a rotor to unbalance forces produces an
Nomenclature
a,b = major and minor axes of shaft elliptical
orbit, Fig. 6
A, B,C,D = amplitude of cosine and sine com-
ponents of rotor force in x and y
directions, respectively
&xx >"yy >"yx *"xy = direct and cross-coupled damping
coefficients
C — film bearing radial clearance, defined as
difference in radius between bearing
lobe and shaft, Figs. 1-5
Ds = shaft diameter = 2R
Fx,Fy = amplitude of dynamic unbalance rotor
force transmitted to bearing at any
instant of time in the x,y coordinate
direction
Fr radial unbalance force transmitted to
bearing at any instant
Journal of Lubrication Technology
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TILTING PAD JOURNAL BEARING
PRELOAD RATIO S=
PIVOT RATIO =;
Fig. 5
elliptical journal orbit with a frequency equal to that of the
shaft rotational speed. This theoretical behavior has been
well-substantiated by practical observations. In a relatively
small number of cases involving rotor instabilities, a much
more complex shaft motion exists than the assumed elliptical
orbit. Hence the analysis does not cover the case of rotor
instability.
The curves (Figs. 8-12) of amplitude parameter versus
bearing eccentricity ratio consider the particular case when the
elliptical shaft orbit is circular. Thus they should be regarded
as limit cases. Nevertheless, it is believed that this simplified
approach is useful for estimating the severity of vibrations,
showing trends and permitting comparisons among different
bearing types.
Elliptical Shaft Orbit Equations
The coordinate axes x,y chosen are shown in Fig. 6. The x
axis coincides with the static load vector. The origin of the
coordinate axes coincides with the center of the ellipse.
Physically, the origin corresponds to the unperturbed position
of the shaft center in the absence of any dynamic loads. The
axes x' ,y' are rotated by an amount a and coincide with the
minor and major axes of the ellipse. Rotation of the shaft is
G,H amplitudes of cos 2a>t, sin 2oit terms
k value of dimensionless shaft amplitude
parameter at a given eccentricity ratio
Kxx,Kyy,KyX,KXy = direct and crosS"COupled spring coef-
ficients for the fluid film
L bearing axial length
Ps static, average bearing pressure =
W/(DSL)
alternating dynamic bearing pressure =
(Fr)M,x/(DsL)
W static force on bearing
r amplitude of circular whirl when a = b
of Fig. 6
t = elapsed time, defining position of shaft
center, Fig. 6
x,y coordinate directions as determined by
static load vector W, Fig. 6
JULY 1983, V o l . 1 0 5 / 3 0 7
 COORDINATE REFERENCE AXES FOR SHAFT CENTER ORBIT A M P L I T U D E PARAMETER VS ECCENTRICITY RATIO
(WITH SHAFT ANGULAR ORIENTATION PICTURED FOR 4 OR»T POSITIONS) FOR TWO A X I A L GROOVE BEARING L / D - 0 . 5 , 1.0
DIRECTION OF STEADY LOAD
ON BEARING
TWO AXIAL GROOVE BEARING

ECCENTRICITY RATIO
Fig. 8

AMPLITUDE PARAMETER VS ECCENTRICITY RATIO

FOR ELLIPTICAL BEARING, L/D-0.5, 1.0

OF ELLIPSE
ELLIPTICAL BEARING, PRELOAD :8"0.5
" 0.15

SHAFT ANGULAR
ORIENTATION AT TIME ZERO
(SHAFT CENTER IS AT
POSITION O, ON ORBIT)

Fig. 6

DYNAMIC REPRESENTATION OF A BEARING

BY SPRING AND DAMPING COEFFICIENTS
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
, BEARING
ECCENTRICITY RATIO
Fig. 9

JOURNAL
assumed counterclockwise from the positive (downward) x
axis.
The position of the shaft center at time / is indicated in Fig.
6. It is convenient to describe the shaft center position in
terms of the parametric equations of the ellipse. Thus, when
the shaft has turned an amount (wO degrees, the projections
of the shaft center position along the x' ,y' axes are given by
x' =a cos(wt-a) (1)
y'=b sin(co/ — a) (2)
where a, b are the major and minor axes of the ellipse, as
shown on Fig. 6. Transferring to the x,y coordinates axes, the
Fig. 7 expressions for x,y may be written as:

Nomenclature (cont.)

x',y' = coordinate directions as determined by A0,B0,C0,Do = particular case for above coefficients
axes of ellipse, Fig. 6 for circular whirl
X M a x ,y M a x = maximum shaft displacement in x,y Kxx,Ky),,Kyx,KXy = dimensionless direct and cross-coupled
coordinate directions, respectively stiffness coefficients for the fluid film
a = angular displacement of coordinate axes c
K
x, x ' . F i g . 6 xx=Kxx~- eic.
co = shaft rotational frequency W
*,,$,, = phase angles of shaft center motion Bxx,Byy,ByX,BXy = dimensionless direct and cross-coupled
determining x,y amplitudes at any damping coefficients for the fluid film
instant of time c
*v.^j. = phase angles determining x,y com- Bxx = uBxx~,etc.
ponents of dynamic force
7 = phase angle determining time or shaft
angular position when the bearing 8 = preload ratio-(Figs. 1-5)
c
radial force is maximized
x,y = differentiation with respect to time
A,B,C,D = dimensionless coefficients e = eccentricity ratio-(Figs. 1-5)

308/Vol. 105, JULY 1983 Transactions of the ASME

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 AMPLITUDE PARAMETER VS ECCENTRICITY RATIO AMPLITUDE PARAMETER VS ECCENTRICITY RATIO
FOR OFFSET CYLINDRICAL BEARING, L/D«0.5, 1.0 FOR FIVE PAD TILT PAD BEARING L/D-0.5,

OFFSET CYLINDRICAL BEARING PRELOAD :8=0.5 FIVE PAD TILT BEARING, L/D-0.5
"o 0.15 r

ON PIVOT LOAD
60% PIVOT LOCATION
507. PRELOAD 8
PAD ARC 5 6 '
000 _J I I
olr 0.1 0.2 0.3
ECCENTRICITY RATIO ECCENTRICITY RATIO
Fig. 10 Fig. 12
AMPLITUDE PARAMETER VS ECCENTRICITY RATIO
FOR THREE LOBE BEARING, L/D-0.5, I.O C = YMax(-KyySm fyy + UByyCOS ^y)
(15)
^ M a x ( ^ - C 0 S $x + wByxSm $x)
„ THREE LOBE BEARING, PRELOAD:8-0.5
D = y M a x ( ^ c o s $y + uByi,s,m *>,) +
(16)
^MaxC^.i-sin $ v —oxB^cos $ r )
oT O.IO
B
tan •$rx = (17)
x
A
and
-C
tan SKy = (18)
D

0.0 O.Z 0.4 0.6 0.8 I.O

ECCENTRICITY RATIO
Peak Dynamic Radial Load Transmitted to Bearing
Fig.11
The dynamic loads in the x,y coordinate directions at any
X=XMaxCos(wt-$x) (3) instant of time (or shaft angular position = wi) are given by
y=YMaxsm{ut-<ty) (4) equations (11) and (12). The radial load Fr is the vector sum
of the forces ,FX, Fy, i.e.,
where
Fr=(Fx2+F/)v' (19)
•XMax = (tf 2 cos 2 a + 6 2 sin 2 a)' /! (5)
Substituting forFA., Fy yields:
{a — b)smacosa
tan <PV = = =— (6) Fr = [(A2+B2)cos2{ut-yx) + (C2+D2)sm2(<J>t-yy)]'/' (20)
a cos ct + b sin a
Making use of trigonometric identities, it can be shown that
^Max =(a 2 sin 2 a + & 2 cos 2 a) l/! (7) equation (20) may be expressed as:
and
(b-a)s'macosa Fr= — [A2 +B2 + C2 +D2+(G1+H2):Acos(2a>t-y)]'A (21)
tan $ „ = a sin
r-52 a + b cos^a
r— (8)
where
Dynamic Forces Transmitted to Bearing in x,y G=(A2+B2)cos 2 Vx-(C2+D2)cos 2 ^y (22)
Directions 2 2 2 2
H= (A +B )sin 2 * x - (C +£> )sin 2 % (23)
As described in reference [2], for example, the relationship and
between bearing dynamic force and shaft motion is given by
H
the expression (for the x and y coordinate directions). tan y= - (24)
Fx = Kxxx+Bxxx+Kxyy+Bxyy (9)
From equation (21) it will be seen that the radial force F,
Fy = Kyyy+Byyy+Kyxx+Byxx (10) reaches a maximum when
The dynamic forces in the two coordinate directions may be cos(2o)/ —7)= 1
expressed as:
The maximum radial force F r M a x is then given by:
Fx = (A2+B2)v'cos(wt-yx) (11)
V 2'[A
. 2+B2+C2+D2 + {G2+H2)V']''
Fy = (C2+D2)Vlsm{wt-yy) (12) Pri (25)
where Making further use of trigonometric identities, and
A = XMax(Kxxcos <i>x + coBxxsm $x) + equations (22) and (23), it may be shown that
(13)
^ M a x ( - ^ W s m $y + <*>Bxy COS <by) G2 + H2 = {A2 + B2)2 + (C 2 + D2)2
B = XMax(Kxxsm <i>x-uBxxcos $ x ) + -2(A2-B2)(D2-C2) + SABCD (26)
(14)
J W ( ^ c o s *j,+w5,,sin * , ) and substituting in equation (25)

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 VZF?r ={A2+B2 + C2+D2 + [(A2+B2)2 V2(F r ) Max c
Max * (A 2 + B2 + C2 + D2 + [(A2 + B2)2
2 2 2
+ (C + D ) - 2(A -B )(D 2 2 2 2
- C ) + 8ABCD] Vl
} Vl
(27) Wa cos 2 a
+ (C 2 +D2)-2(A2 -B2)([D2 -C2) + SABCD]'A J v> (33)
The previous equation therefore relates the maximum
radial force transmitted from the rotor to the bearing as a It will be seen that the right-hand side of equation^ (33)
function of a number of constants A, B, C, D. These con- depends solely on the dimensionless constants A, B, C, D.
stants are determined by the bearing dynamic coefficients, the These constants are a function of three factors, i.e.,
ellipse parameters and the speed as given by equations (5)-(8) 1) The dimensionless spring and damping coefficients.
and(13)-(16). These coefficients are a function of bearing geometry
and operating conditions; for a given bearing at a known
eccentricity ratio, the coefficients are fixed values.
Dimensionless Equations for Peak Dynamic Radial 2) The aspect ratio of the elliptical orbit formed by the
Load With Elliptical Shaft Orbit journal center, i.e., the ratio alb of major to minor axes
of the ellipse.
The eight fluid film bearing dynamic coefficients are
3) The orientation angle a of the shaft major axis with
frequently expressed as dimensionless values in the literature,
respect to the vertical load vector.
e.g.,
The left-hand side of equation (33) is a dimensionless
K.... = Kyy Kyy-Kyy w quantity which contains the maximum bearing dynamic force
i.X XX yy -fV.Max. the static force Won the bearing, the bearing clearance
c, the ellipse orientation angle a and the major ellipse orbit
B.xx = uBxx -— Byy = ijjByy — CtC. axis a. For a fixed value of the right-hand side of equation
(33), if the angle a and the static load W are known and the
where W = total static load on the bearing maximum dynamic load FrMax is specified, the ratio ale is
c = bearing radial clearance (the difference be- then fixed. That is, the maximum vibrational amplitude a for
tween the journal radius and the radius of a bearing with clearance c can be specified.
curvature of the bearing liner, sometimes
referred to as the "ground" clearance).
The bars over the quantities indicate that they are
Dimensionless Equations for Peak Dynamic Radial
dimensionless. Returning to equations (13)-(16) and using the
expressions for X U M , F Max from equations (5) and (7) and for Load With Circular Shaft Orbit
$ x , * y from equations (6), (8), and the dimensionless spring For the case of the elliptical shaft orbit, the constants A, B,
and damping coefficients, we obtain: C, D of equation (33) may have an infinite number of values
Ac . / b T \ for a given eccentricity ratio. Although the dimensionless
— j - =KXX[\+ — tan2 a) spring and damping coefficients are fixed by the eccentricity
Wa cos2 a \ a /
ratio, different variables of ellipse attitude a and aspect ratio
may be arbitrarily assigned in computing these constants A,
+ [Bxy (tan2a + — ~) + (Bxx+Kxy)(l j t a n a (28) B, etc. Hence a plot of equation (33) would require selected
parameters of alb and a.
Be . / b \ To reduce the number of such plots and present a simple
w„ „„ 2 = (Kxx - Bxy) 11 - — ) tana - Bxx method for estimating allowable shaft motion, assume that
Wa cos^a \ a /
the shaft orbit is circular. In this case, the ratio alb = 1 and a
= 0. Hence the constants A, B, C, D, from equations
( l + — tan 2 a) + Kxy Ttan 2 a + — ) (29) (28)-(31), to be used in equation (33) become:

Cc Ao=Kxx + Bxy (34)

- - {Kyy + B.
Wa cos 2 a • ) ( > - T ) tana BQ= ~BXX+Kxy (35)
CO = Byy + Kyx (36)
-Byy ( t a n 2 a + —j+Kyx(l+ — tan2aj (30)
DO = Kyy — ByX (37)
where the subscript 0 indicates the particular case of a circular
= Kyy f t a n 2 a + — j -Byx N + — tan2aj orbit.
Wa cos 2 a When alb = 1 and a = 0°, the left-hand side of equation
(33) is reduced to
+
0-4)
(Kyx-Byy){\- tana
Again, for simplicity, let the left-hand sides of equations
(3D J2(Fr)Umc _ V2(/v) Max c
Wa cos2 a Wr (3s)

(28)-(31) be represented by the dimensionless constants A, B,

C, D where where r = radial amplitude of the circular shaft orbit. The
-A Ac Be static and dynamic bearing forces may be written as projected
A= — bearing pressures. Equation (33) may then be rearranged to
Wa cos2^-a ,B Wa cos 2 a ' the form:
Cc Dc V2
C= =- ,D-- (32)
Wa cos 2 a Wa cos2 a (£)(T> f(A0,B0,C0,D0)
Substituting in equation (27) from equation (32), a where/(,4o. A,» C 0 , D0) is a function of the constants, A, B,
dimensionless expression for maximum transmitted force may C, D for a circular orbit (equations (34)-(37)), as given by the
be formed, i.e., right-hand side of equation (33).

310/Vol. 105, JULY 1983 Transactions of the ASME

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 Allowable Shaft Amplitude Parameter Versus Bearing
Eccentricity Ratio
Equation (33) has been calculated and plotted for several
bearing types pictured in Figs. 1-5 as a function of bearing
eccentricity ratio. The spring and damping coefficients used
to calculate A0, etc. were obtained from references [2, 3].
Results are shown for four bearing types at length/diameter
ratios of 0.5 and 1 in Figs. 8-11. The bearing types are the two
axial groove; elliptical; three lobe; and the offset cylindrical.
The latter three types have preload ratios of 0.5. Figure 12
presents the results for a 5 pad, tilt-pad bearing (loaded on
pivot). Data for Fig. 12 were obtained from reference [3].
The vertical axes of these plots is a dimensionless allowable
shaft amplitude parameter. If the ratio of Pd/Ps is known or
specified for a given eccentricity ratio, these curves will permit
a simple estimate of allowable shaft vibration (as a fraction of
bearing clearance) so as not to exceed the allowable dynamic
pressure load on the bearing.
For example, consider the case when the static and dynamic
pressures are equal for any operating eccentricity ratio. The
amplitude parameter then becomes simply the ratio of shaft
orbital radius to bearing clearance which will produce a
dynamic bearing load equal to its static value. If such a
criteria is applied, a review of the bearing plots shows that
rather low shaft vibration amplitudes would exist at ec-
centricity ratios of 0.1 or less.
It is unlikely, however, that one would choose a constant
ratio of dynamic to static bearing pressures in determining
allowable shaft vibration amplitude. It is more probable that
a limiting dynamic load would be set over the entire possible
bearing operating range. Low values of bearing eccentricity
ratio are often the result of low bearing static pressures. If,
for example, the allowable dynamic load is 400 psi (2.75 M
Pa) and the static load is 80 psi (0.55 M Pa), the allowable
shaft amplitude ratio r/c is five times (400/80) the amplitude
parameter for the given operating eccentricity ratio.
However, if a low amplitude parameter is indicated
together with a high static pressure relative to the allowable
dynamic value, then only a small vibrational amplitude is
permissible. In such a case, it may be difficult to distinguish
between acceptable and unacceptable dynamic loads from
shaft vibration measurements.
Estimating Maximum Allowable Dynamic Pressure on
Bearing
It is clear that the maximum alternating load Pd allowed on
the bearing is an extremely important parameter in setting
shaft vibration limits. Unfortunately, at the present state of
the art, it is not possible to provide a precise, universal value
of Pd for all sizes and types of fluid film bearings.
Some of the factors which are known to influence stresses
in the babbitt (and which ultimately cause fatigue) are: the
thickness and composition of the bearing babbitt; the rigidity
of the base metal structure to which the babbitt is bonded;
circumferential and tangential temperature gradients; the
hydrodynamic pressure distribution in the bearing liner
(which is itself a function of bearing geometry, speed,
clearances, oil properties) and the combination of steady and
alternating loads imposed on the bearing. These factors are
discussed in the literature such as in references [5-8].
Reference [7] presents the results of an analytical attempt to
correlate some of these variables with the experimental results
of tests performed by reference [8]. Those tests were carried
out on bearings with a tin-based babbitt liner, 10 mils thick.
The bearing diameter was 2.8 in., length 1.28 in., and
diametral clearance 3.3 mils. Tests were carried out under
various combinations of mean and alternating loads for up to
107 cycles at 1800 rpm. The applied load (defined as force
Journal of Lubrication Technology
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divided by bearing length x diameter) was up to about 5000
psi for the mean and 8000 psi for the alternating value (double
amplitude).
Results were shown as "fatigued" or "not fatigued" in a
plot of test loads—double amplitude versus mean level.
Considerable scatter exits in this plot. Nevertheless, the
boundary between "fatigued" and "not fatigued" specimens
is approximately a horizontal line. This indicates that the
allowable alternating load is not significantly affected by the
mean level.
The smallest double amplitude alternating load which
caused a fatigue failure exceeded 1000 psi. The mean load at
this condition was about 2000 psi. The rest of the test data,
however, showed no fatigue failures resulting from alter-
nating loads at 2000 psi, i.e., ±1000psi.
The authors of reference [7] had only a modest degree of
success in explaining the experimental results of reference [8].
Finite element studies were carried out to calculate the stresses
in the babbitt for six cases within the range of the ex-
perimental conditions. The calculated stresses were compared
to babbitt fatigue strength criteria and finally to the ex-
perimental fatigue results. Half the analytical predictions of
whether or not fatigue would occur agreed with the data.
One of the important conclusions reached, however, was
that variations in the hydrodynamic pressure correlated with
the experimental trend. Such variations in pressure will be
produced by shaft center orbits. Thus there is some
reasonable grounds to expect that the limiting shaft dynamic
load Pd will be independent of the mean bearing load Ps.
To make use of the curves of Figs. 8 through 12 it is
necessary to provide some estimate of allowable dynamic
pressure Pd, however imperfect the basis. The minimum
dynamic load which produced fatigue in the tests of reference
[8] was about +550 psi ( ± 3 . 8 M Pa). The test rig value may
be too optimistic for application to typical turbomachinery
bearings. Such bearings are likely to be larger, have a greater
babbitt thickness, and be more subject to misalignment than
the test rig bearings.
In the absence of specific test data or experience for the
allowable dynamic load Pd, a more conservative value in the
range of ±400 to ±450 psi (±2.75 to ±3.1 M Pa) is
suggested for use with these curves.
Estimating Vibration Severity
The severity of shaft vibration may be estimated from
equation (33) for a known, elliptical shaft orbit. This requires
specific values for the bearing coefficients, the static load on
the bearing and its clearance. The dynamic load on the
bearing may then be computed and compared with its
dynamic load capacity. An operating dynamic load which
equals or exceeds the fatigue capacity should be used as a
machine trip level vibration limit.
Existing vibration charts often distinguish several zones of
severity, ranging from trip level vibrations to those evaluated
as indicating very smooth operation. A useful guide from
vibration experience is that each doubling of vibration levels
represents a significant change in the rotor condition. Thus,
one may establish zone boundaries for shaft vibration in
which the alarm is one-half the trip level; smooth is one-
fourth trip and very smooth, one-eighth the trip level. This
same guide to vibration severity zones can be applied to the
present analysis. Rather than using an arbitrary assumption
for a trip level vibration, the present analysis is based on a
rational assessment of bearing dynamic load. Thus bearing
type, size, clearance and operating conditions all are taken
into consideration in determining the vibration trip level.
The curves of Figs. 8-12 consider the particular case when
the elliptical orbit is circular. Given the operating eccentricity
ratio and static bearing load, the whirl clearance ratio to cause
JULY 1983, Vol. 105/311
 bearing fatigue may be predicted. Zone boundaries of
vibration severity may be calculated, as described earlier.
Two practical bounds should be applied. As an upper
bound for a trip level, the shaft vibration should not exceed 30
percent of the bearing lobe clearance. (It should be noted that
the lobe clearance is greater than the assembled clearance for
geometrically pre-loaded bearings). As a lower bound, shaft
vibration levels much less than 1 mil (25 /xm) pip should not
be expected for commercially acceptable machinery.
An upper bound on shaft amplitude ratio is necessary to
keep within the theoretical limitations of the analysis, which
postulates shaft perturbations about a steady-state point. The
lower bound of 1 mil (25 itm) pip recognizes the fact that
smaller values of shaft vibration are difficult to measure
accurately. If the trip level shaft vibration is 2 mils (50 iim),
one should not expect even a very smooth operating rotor to
exhibit shaft vibrations as low as 0.25 mils (6 /xm). Such a
value is comparable to the surface roundness and mechanical
run-out values attainable on the proximity probe target. It
will occur at shaft speeds approaching zero and thus does not
represent vibration.
From the viewpoint of the field engineer, a simple method
for judging vibration severity is very desirable, when there is
little data or experience to draw upon. An estimate may be
made as follows. The curves of Figs. 8-11 show an average
peak amplitude parameter of 0.13. If the typical ratio of static
to maximum dynamic pressure is in the range of 0.4 to 0.5, the
allowable whirl amplitude ratio is about 0.3. That is, a
journal amplitude about 30 percent of the bearing lobe
clearance should represent a trip level for the machine.
Bearing clearances will vary dependent upon the designer's
objective with respect to operating film thickness and rotor
stability. For cylindrical bearings (Fig. 1) representative lobe
clearances are about 0.0015 times the journal diameter.
Preloaded bearings (Figs. 2-5), however, frequently have
larger lobe clearances, about 0.003 times the journal
diameter.
For a "rule of thumb" estimate of vibration severity,
assume an overall lobe clearance 0.0025 of the journal
diameter. Apply the 30 percent factor for trip level vibration.
Thus, a trip level, peak to peak shaft vibration will be 0.00075
times the journal diameter.
Such a rule-of-thumb, however, should be applied with
caution. It is not an adequate substitute for a detailed
evaluation of the specific bearing type, size, steady load and
operating eccentricity ratio.
312/Vol. 105, JULY 1983
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Summary and Conclusions
Equations are developed relating the bearing dynamic load,
the size and shape of the shaft orbit, and the spring and
damping characteristics of a fluid film bearing. For the case
when the shaft orbit is circular, the equations are simplified.
For a given bearing geometry, a dimensionless curve can then
be plotted of a vibrational amplitude parameter versus
bearing eccentricity ratio. This plot can be applied to
geometrically similar bearings of different sizes. The
allowable shaft vibration amplitude can be calculated from
the dimensionless amplitude parameter if the bearing
clearance, steady load, and acceptable dynamic load are
known. Curves are provided for several bearing geometries.
If geometrically similar bearings are operated at identical
eccentricity ratios, the allowable shaft vibration (for the same
limiting dynamic pressure) will be proportional to bearing
size. Larger vibration amplitudes are allowable for larger
machines.
The significance of a given vibration level on bearing
dynamic load (for a given journal size) depends upon the type
of bearing and its operating eccentricity ratio. Under certain
conditions, the shaft amplitude level may be too low to
distinguish reliably between acceptable and unacceptable
dynamic loads. In such cases the seismic probe mounted on
the bearing housing is likely to be a better choice for a
vibration sensor than the proximity probe.
References
1 American Petroleum Institute Standard 670, "Non-Contacting Vibration
and Axial Position Monitoring System," lsted., June 1976, p. 10.
2 Lund, J. W., and Thomsen, K. K., "A Calculation Method and Data for
the Dynamic Coefficients of Oil Lubricated Journal Bearings," ASME Spec.
PubL, Topics in Fluid Film Bearing and Rotor Bearing System Design and
Optimization, 1978.
3 Glienicke, J., Han, D. C , and Leonhard, M., "Practical Determination
and Use of Bearing Dynamic Coefficients," Tribology International, Vol. 13,
No. 6, Dec. 1980, pp. 297-309.
4 Lund, J. W., "Analytical Methods in Rotor-Bearing Dynamics,"
Tribology International, Vol. 13, No. 5, Oct. 1980, pp. 233-236.
5 Lang, O. R., "Surface Fatigue of Plain Bearings," Wear, Vol. 43, 1977,
pp. 25-30.
6 Ibrahim, M., and McCallion, H., "Stresses in Oil Lubricated Bearings,"
Proc. Inst. Mech. Engrs., Vol. 184, Part 1, No. 3, 1969-1970.
7 Martin, F. A., Garner, D. R., and Adams, D. R., "Hydrodynamic Aspects
of Fatigue in Plain Journal Bearings," ASME Paper 80C2/LUB-19, presented
at Century 2 ASME-ASLE International Lubrication Conference, San Fran-
cisco, Calif., Aug. 18-21, 1980.
8 Gyde, H., "Fatigue Fractures in Babbitt Lined Journal Bearings," thesis,
1969, Laboratory of Internal Combustion Engines, Technical Univ. of Den-
mark, Copenhagen.
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