Thrust Bearing
Add a Thrust Bearing node to model a cross section where a thrust bearing is acting. The selected boundaries should form a circular surface representing the cross section of the rotor.
If clearance is incorporated, you can also study the effect of misalignment by adding a Misalignment subnode.
Bearing Orientation
Use the settings in this section to define the local y direction of the bearing. Subsequent vector and matrix inputs are specified in the local directions specified here.
Enter the Bearing orientation vector defining the local x direction. The direction given will be adjusted so that it is orthogonal to the rotor axis. The default value is the global y-axis.
You can further modify the x-axis orientation by entering an angle for the Rotation of the orientation vector around the bearing axis. The direction inferred from the previous setting will be rotated counterclockwise around the rotor axis.
Bearing Properties
Select a Bearing ModelNo clearance, Total spring and damping constant, Total force and moment, or Force per reference area. Then go to the relevant section below to continue defining the properties.
Total Spring and Damping Constant
Enter the axial and bending stiffness, ku and kθ. Select the Translational-rotational coupling checkbox to also model the coupling between the axial and rotational motion of the collar. Enter expressions for the additional inputs, kuθ and kθu in this case. If you want to perform dynamic analysis, you can also provide nonzero axial and bending damping constants cu and cθ. Select the Translational-rotational coupling checkbox and enter cuθ and cθu values to include the translational-rotational coupling in the damping constants. Default values for the rotational stiffness and damping constants are provided as functions of the axial stiffness. It is assumed that the axial stiffness and damping constants are uniformly distributed on the given selection. The equivalent moment experienced at the center of the collar due to this distribution is considered as the moment from the bearing. The variables <phys>.<feat>.E{11,22,12,21} and <phys>.<feat>.area appearing in the default expression are the components of the Euler tensor and area of the collar, respectively. Component indices in the variable E represent the respective components of the Euler tensor in the local bearing directions.
Total Force and Moment
Enter the Total force, Ftot, and Total moment, Mtot, as functions of collar displacement and rotation. To help specifying the force and moment as functions of collar displacement and rotation, default expressions are provided for these inputs. These expressions contain variables of the type <phys>.<feat>.{du3c,dth1,dth2}, which are relative axial displacement and lateral components of the relative rotation of the collar with respect to the bearing at the center, in the local bearing directions.
Force per Reference Area
Enter the axial force per reference area, FA, in the matrix. This option is useful if the distributed force on the collar surface is known. To help specifying the input as a function of collar axial displacement a default expression is provided. This expression contains the variable <phys>.<feat>.du3, which is the axial component of the relative surface displacement of the collar with respect to the bearing.
Select the Constrain lateral motion checkbox (cleared by default) if you do not want to use a separate Journal Bearing node to restrict the lateral motion.
Foundation Properties
Select one of the Fixed, Moving, or Flexible foundation options. If the model component also contains other structural physics interfaces such as Solid Mechanics, Multibody Dynamics, or Shell that have Attachment or Rigid Domain features, the above list is extended with the attachments and rigid domains available in these physics interfaces. In the Moving and Flexible cases, the subnodes Moving Foundation or Flexible Foundation are automatically added. If any of the attachments or rigid domains is selected, displacement and rotation of the selected feature are used as foundation motion. Attachments and rigid domains provide an easy way of coupling the rotor with the stator.
Location in User Interface
Context Menus
Ribbon
Physics tab with Solid Rotor or Solid Rotor, Fixed Frame selected: