Multiphysics TEHD Model of a Tilting-Pad Thrust Bearing with Polymeric Layer

The trend in the last years in industrial applications of tilting-pad thrust bearings is the replacement of the traditional white metal of the pads with a polymeric material such as PTFE or PEEK, improving the bearing performances and extending its operating conditions. The main cause on the improved performances of the bearing is the compliance of the pad layer that leads to a more uniform pressure distribution over the pad and a reduction of its maximum value with respect to Babbitt metal pads. The effect of this improvement is the possibility of the reduction of the bearing overall dimensions because of the load capacity increase. The secondary benefits concern the very low friction coefficient of the polymeric material as well as the high resistance to chemical attacks as in sea-water applications. The improvement of the bearing performances have been investigated in the paper by means of thermoelastohydrodynamic (TEHD) analyses using a multiphysics software.