Drop Analysis of Auxiliary Bearings in Fluid Film/Magnetic Bearing Supported Rotor

The work focuses on the design of the auxiliary bearings for the primary magnetic system in a new fluid film bearing test rig. The design is unique since the rotor is supported by the central tested journal bearing along with the two magnetic bearings. A three mass model for the rig is used to conduct the transient analysis of the rotor drop. Hertz contact theory is used to describe the contact between the rotor and the inner race of the back-up bearings. The analysis included different sets of auxiliary bearings as well as different levels of damping.