Performance of three-lobe
pressure-dam bearings
N. P. Mehta and S. S. Rattan
The use of multi-lobe bearings, considered to be more stable than
ordinary circular bearings in industry is increasing daily. Studies
have shown that performance can be further improved if pressure
dams are incorporated into these bearings. Analysis of two-lobe
pressure dam bearings has been reported in the literature. The
present work was carried out to assess the performance of a
three-lobe bearing with pressure dams. The results show that the
performance of a three-lobe pressure-dam bearing is far superior
to that of an ordinary three-lobe bearing.
Keywords: hydrodynamic lubrication, three-lobe bearings, three-lobe
pressure-dam bearings, finite element method
Introduction
The current trend in industry is to use high-speed
rotating machinery in order to have smaller weight and
size. For satisfactory performance of these machines,
ordinary circular or multi-lobe bearings are not very
satisfactory. To enhance the stability of these bearings,
pressure dams are incorporated. Analytical dynamic
analysis 1-4 shows that the stability of cylindrical
pressure-dam bearings is superior to that of ordinary
cylindrical bearings. Experimental stability analysis of
these bearings 5-7 established that analytical stability
analysis provides the general trends in the experimental
data. Studies of the performance characteristics of
non-cylindrical bearings have been reported by Mehta
et al. 8-1z on finite-elliptical, half-elliptical, offset-halves
and orthogonally displaced pressure-dam bearings.
Since three-lobe bearings are also widely used in
industry and analysis of them has been carried O u t 13,
the present study is undertaken to assess the perform-
ance of three-lobe bearings with pressure dams by
using the finite element method.
Bearing geometry
The three-lobe bearings comprise three lobes whose
centres of curvature are not in the geometric centre
of the bearing. Thus, although the individual lobes
are circular, the geometric configuration of the bearing
as a whole is not. Figure l(a) shows a sectional side
view of a three-lobe pressure-dam bearing whereas
Fig l(b) is the schematic view. O1, 02 and 03 are the
centres of lobes 1, 2 and 3, respectively, of the bearing.
For counterclockwise rotation of the journal, the
location of the dams are as shown in the figure. The
bearing is provided with three oil-supply grooves of
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Regional Engineering Col-
lege, Kurukshetra-132119, lndia.
Received 16 February 1993; accepted 10 June 1993
TRIBOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
0301-679X/93/060435-08
0g = 10 located at 0 = 0 , 120 and 240 . These
angles also represent the positions of the split axes of
the bearing. The oil hole angle 0g is subtended at the
centre of the bearing at the starting and trailing end
of each lobe.
A rectangular dam or step of depth Sd and width La
is cut circumferentially in lobes 1 and 3. In these lobes
the dam starts after the oil hole and subtends an arc
of 0s degrees at the centre. The angle 0s for lobes 1
and 3 is measured from each of the lobe axes. A
circumferential relief-track or groove of depth and
w i d t h L t is also cut centrally in the second lobe of the
bearing. The relief-track is assumed to be so deep
that its hydrodynamic effects are neglected.
For a concentric shaft position, there are two reference
clearances: a minor clearance given by an inscribed
circle denoted by Cm and a major clearance c given
by a circle circumscribed by the lobe radius. Thus,
the centre of each circle is shifted by a distance ep which
is equal to C - C m (Fig 1). ep is non-dimensionalized by
dividing by the major radial clearance c, i.e.
8 (ellipticity ratio ) = ep/C = 1 - Cm/C
Lobes 1 and 3 with pressure dams and lobe 2 with a
relief-track are shown in Fig 2. 11 and /2 are bearing
circumferential lengths before and after the dam:
ll = ~rR(0s - 0g)
12 = -rrR (120 - 0s - 0g)
The eccentricity ratios and attitude angles of the
individual lobes of three-lobe bearings are given by
the following relations:
~ = ~2 + a2 _ 2~Scos(-rr/3 - +)
~2 = ~2 + 82 _ 2~8cos+
E2 = ~.2 + 82 -- 2~Scos(~r/3 + +)
+1=
+sin
I (; i]
I ~sin -+
1993 Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd 435
N. P. Mehta and S. S. Rattan--Three-lobe pressure-dam bearings

Notation q dimensionless oil-flow coefficient,

QHrRcNL
Ac area of the bearing element R journal radius
c radial clearance Rec Reynolds number, pVc/tx
Cln minimum film thickness for a centred Re Reynolds number, pVh/p.
shaft S Sommerfeld number, (txNLD/W) (R/c) 2
Cxx~fxy, Sd step or dam depth
Gx,C_ y oil-film damping coefficients Sd Sa/c
Cxx~f~'y~ s Laplace plane
Cyx, Cry dimensionless oil-film damping V peripheral speed of journal, tor
coefficients Cx~ = C~,, (~oc/W) W bearing external load
D diameter W Dimensionless load-carrying capacity of
e eccentricity bearing W = (W/IxNLD) (c/R) 2
Fx, G horizontal and vertical film forces X, Z coordinates for bearing surface (x
f dimensionless coefficient of friction peripheral, z along shaft axis)
g gravitational acceleration constant 4, attitude angle
h oil thickness, c(l+ecos0) whirl rate ratio
dimensionless oil film thickness, h/2c squeeze rate ratio
K x,K y, E eccentricity ratio, e/c
Kvx,Kyy oil-film stiffness coefficients 8 ellipticity ratio, ( 1 - - C m / C )
0 angle measured from line of centres in
the direction of rotation
Kvx,Kvy dimensionless oil-film stiffness 0 1 , 02 angles of leading and trailing edges of
coefficients K,~ = K** (c/W)
hydrodynamic fluid film
L bearing length
angle from load line to the physical end
03
Ld, Lt pressure-dam bearings dam width, relief of the surface
track width
P fluid density
Ld, Lt Ld/L, Lt/L ~x average fluid viscosity
N journal rotational speed tO rotational speed
Oi lobe centre of lobe i (i = 1, 2, 3) p dimensionless threshold speed, to(c/g)~/2
P oil-film pressure
0 lubricant side leakage

The solution of equation (2) for pressure distribution

~b2 = sin 1 [ ~ s i n 6 ] in the finite-element technique is obtained by minimiz-
ing the following variational integraP 4 over the individ-
ual elements:
~b3= ~ - s i n 1 sin +6
fA [ 1~3 /(aP=eet2 + (D) 2 (aP-"t2/
Je(Pe)= f -212{\ax/ \Oz/ J
e ,
Analysis
The Reynolds equation for a laminar flow is Txx

ax ox + oz oz - 5 e&cos2x 0x + 2 ax J dA e (3)
Oh
= 6Rto Ox + 12eSsin0 + 12kcos0 (1) where pC = dimensionless film pressure in the eth
element.
The following substitutions are made in order to non-
dimensionalize equation (1): Each lobe of the bearing is analysed separately. Since
the pressure profiles for lobes 1 and 3 are symmetrical
about the centre line of the bearing, only half of the
x = D, z = L, p= to kit~ lobe is considered for analysis. Each half is divided
into 16 x 4 elements. The size of the elements is
0 - x - 2 X -D2 x , R ~=~' &=~band~=~ww taken in such a way that the mesh is refined near the
dams. In the case of lobe 2 of a pressure-dam bearing
and the non-dimensionatized form thus obtained is with a relief-track there are two segments of pressure
profiles on either side of the centre line of the bearing
and each segment is symmetrical about its own centre
line (Fig 3). Therefore only half of a segment is
considered for analysis and divided into 16 4
rr ah elements. The mesh size is reduced near the trailing
- 2 ax + ~r~&sin2x + rr~cos2x (2)
edge where heavy pressures are produced. The resulting
436 1993 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 6
 N. P. Mehta and S. S. Rattan--Three-lobe pressure-dam bearings

Y
Step Dam

I-I 1
II I
"~\x Lobe 3

~ V
\IE~.~~-~m i\

J
OI Lobes I end 3

/_
02

Relief track
of
Lobe 2

CEof portion
of Lobe 2
Lobe 2
~ t r a c k t I I I I I' ' I " I ' I "I I [ investigated
01 02
Lobe 2
Lood
Fig 3 Dividing a three-lobe pressure-dam bearing into
elements
Step depth
~~ ~,,,.\/~ yobe3
matrix in each case is stored in the banded form and
Lobe,-______,,y~ ~ is then solved by the Gauss-elimination method.
The Reynolds equation is an elliptical partial differen-
tial equation and, therefore, must be solved as a
boundary value problem. According to MaCallion et
" I I al. ]5, for a bearing having oil supplied at zero pressure
the largest possible extent of the positive pressure
"~l ///~T~ "-Jurnl region is given by the boundary conditions that both
pressure and pressure gradient are zero at the break-
down and build up boundaries of the oil film, and are
known as Reynolds boundary conditions. However, it
_ ~ y track
has been shown 16J7 that even by setting the negative
e= OdO L l~--
e I = Od 01 Lobe 2 hydrodynamic pressures to zero as they occur in any
e2= Od O2
iteration step, the results tend to satisfy the Reynolds
~X boundary conditions in the limit. The latter approach
e3= Oj O3
b has also been followed in the present analysis.
Stiffness and damping coefficients are calculated separ-
Fig 1 Pressure-dam bearing. (a) Side view, (b) sche- ately for each lobe and then totalled. The stiffness
matic coefficients are given by8:

~x, = __ [OaF~sin~ + Of'~ --

- - [ OF'~ 0Fxsin~b]/~
Kxy = -- -- ~-~ COS(I)+ O~
rl~y sln~+
~yx=_[~E_E . 0Fy
~ c OS13~1--
./W

-- [OFy OF'y si~b ]

Kyy=- -~-cos~b+ a~b /W
Oil grooves Lobes I and 3 Oil grooves
/
In these equations the partial derivatives of d~ are
found by cha~aging the attitude angle of each lobe by
a small value, keeping the eccentricity ratio constant
and noting the corresponding change in the values of
horizontal and vertical forces. Similarly, the partial
Lobe 2 derivatives of e are found by changing the eccentricity
-Ld = Ld / L of each lobe by a small amount, keeping the lobe
[t = Lt/L attitude angle corresponding to the static equilibrium
of the bearing.
Fig 2 Lobes of a three-lobe pressure-dam bearing
The expressions for the damping coefficients areS:
TRIBOLOGYINTERNATIONAL 437
N. P. Mehta and S. S. Rattan--Three-lobe pressure-dam bearings

p,,x : _ [OF..xsin+ + oF~c o~+ ] -/W

- 15
PEAK PRESSURE =16 28 AT 1 8 5 - 2 0

L 0[3 o,~ L/D=1.0

6=03
12 ~-d=O75
~Sd=lS
8s=90
[o?~ o?~cos+l= ~-t =025
V. =
. .
- L 0~ sm,~ + o& ~]/w 1
[ OF~ . OFy sin+l._-= o 1st LOBE ~ 2rid 3rd LOBE
/LOBE |
STEP

The partial derivatives of a and [3 are obtained by

giving a small value to & and [3, respectively, to STEP--~ LO "'h
the rotor in each lobe, corresponding to the static
I o ,,~//,_@
equilibrium position of the bearing. '

The values of these stiffness and damping coefficients 0 I F,V ,

are used to evaluate the coefficients of the following 0 60 120 180 = 240 300" 360 =
characteristic equation:
ANGLE e >
S4"D4 : $31)2C2 ~- $2(1)2C4 -{- Co) + s C 1 + C 3 : 0
(4) Fig 4 Maximum pressure variation over each lobe of
a three-lobe pressure-dam bearing (6 = 0.3)
where
Co = C** Cyy - C~y Cy~
C 1 = K** Cvv + Kyy C~ - Kxy Cyx - Ky~ C~y. PEAK PRESSURE =18 08 AT 1 7 8 . 8 0
C2 : -C~ + Cy~ 15
L/D=1.0 ~d=0 7s 1
C 3 = KxxKyy + KxyKyx I I 6:05 5d=~ 5
12
For a system to be stable the real part of all the roots
of this equation has to be negative 1~. If any real part I )
of the roots becomes positive, the system becomes I~ Ist LOBE
unstable.
/
For the present analysis, the bearing with the following I STEP---~

oo/j
usual characteristics has been considered:
L/D=I Sd=l.5 Ld=0.75
Lt=0.25 0~=90 0g=10
Three values of the ellipticity ratio (8) 0.3, 0.5 and \
0.6 are selected for the present study. The authenticity
of the computer programs of a three-lobe bearing O' 60 o 120 o 1800 2400 300 o 3600
without pressure dams and of two-lobe bearings with
ANGLE 8 >
pressure dams have already been established by the
authors 9 ~3. Fig 5 Maximum pressure variation over each lobe of
a three-lobe pressure-dam bearing (6 = 0.5)

Results and discussion

It can be observed from the plots that in the three
Figures 4 to 6 show the circumferential variation of
cases covered, i.e. for 8 = 0.3, 0.5 and 0.6 all the
fluid film pressures at the centre line (termed as centre
area of the upper lobes (1 and 3) is saturated with
line pressures) of a three-lobe pressure-dam bearing
moderate to heavy pressures. As an example, Fig 7 is
for three values of 8 varying from 0.3 to 0.6. Centre
plotted for the pressures in the three lobes of an
lines for lobes 1 and 3 are the mid-planes of each lobe
ordinary three-lobe bearing at 8 = 0.5. The plots show
while the centre line of lobe 2 with a relief-track are
that lobes 1 and 3 are either cavitated over most of
the centre lines of each segment, as discfissed above.
the surface or have very low pressures. In the second
In Figs 4 to 6 the circumferential angle is taken from
lobe heavy pressures are usually developed on a larger
the load line in the direction of rotation. The oil-
surface in all cases. Thus, a comparison shows that
supply grooves are marked in each figure. In general,
the pressure-dam bearing would be very stiff compared
two extreme eccentricity ratios from the investigated
to an ordinary three-lobe bearing, indicating more
range are taken for which centre line pressures are
stable operation.
plotted. Thus these plots show the limits of fluid film
pressures in each lobe for a given set of design Other statistical data are plotted in Figs 8 to 12.
parameters in the range investigated. Figures 8 and 9 show the variation of the eccentricity
438 1993 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 6
 N. P. Mehta and S. S. Rattan--Three-lobe pressure-dam bearings

PEAK PRESSURE=17.98 AT 175.10 0.8

15 62
/~ L/D:I.0 -Ld=0 75
6=0.6 d:l S
8s : 9 0 0.7 c2
12 o,i Lt :0-25
c5
" " " --.... 62
STEP l 0-6
Ist LOBE 3rd LOBE ~/ 0 ....... 63
LD
n- I--
STEP---* 2nd
D
.*BE
<~ 0.5
LD 0
d
n,-
U~

J
LU
n-
n >"
I-- 0.4
"P~ /
o> U ----" ~'--G1
r~
0.3 G
'l , r!/ , Z
00 60 120" 180" 240* 300* 360"
W

ANGLE e
~ 0-2
W
Fig 6 Maximum pressure variation over each lobe of ..... 6--0.3 . . . . . . . 61
a three-lobe pressure-dam bearing (6 = 0.6) 0.1 - - 6 =0.5
..... 8=08
0"0 B a i J J I i I j I , , i ,

PEAK PRESSURE=6749 AT 184.8 0.4 1.0 5.0 10,0

15
L/D:I.0 SOMMERFELD NUMBER
8 =0-5
12 Fig 8 Sommerfeld number versus attitude angle

t
I"
9~
0
LU
Q:
D 6 [st LOBE 2rid LOBE 3rd LOBE
U~
Ul
UJ 280
n" ~ W
I_
0 , 0 qb i--____
o ~
I 240 Q~I
[%
0 [
0" 600 120" 180 240 300* 360
LU
_.J
200 ..... 8:0.3
ANGLE e ,, 6=0,5
t9
Fig 7 Maximum pressure variation over each lobe of Z ..... 6 =06
an ordinary three-lobe bearing (6 = 0.5) <C 160
W

ratio and the attitude angle, respectively, with a F- 120

Sommerfeld number for three cases of ellipticity ratios ~3
0.3, 0.5 and 0.6. In Fig 8, curves are drawn for attitude
angle 4) of the bearing as well as for the individual 80 c#3
lobes +~, 4)2 and 4)3. Similarly, Fig 9 shows the curves , (~9

for eccentricity of the bearing ~ and lobe eccentricities q~ ep

~ , ~2 and ~3. It is observed that the bearing attitude 40 ...... /
angle 4) increases whereas the eccentricity ratio 2 _,__~2
decreases with an increase in the value of & However,
for any particular value of 8, there is little variation 0 .... ,I , , , J
in the eccentricity ratio ~, as is usually observed in 0.4 1.0 5-0 10-0
ordinary three-lobe bearings. This shows that the
pressure dams in lobes 1 and 3 of a three-lobe bearing 50MMERFELD NUMBER
forces it to operate at high eccentricity ratios even at Fig 9 Sommerfeld number versus eccentricity ratio
high Sommerfeld numbers (lighter loads).
TRIBOLOGY I N T E R N A T I O N A L 439
 N. P. Mehta and S. S. Rattan--Three-lobe pressure-dam bearings

0.40 --- 200

o

f n"

i ~- 0 . 3 6 ~- 1GO
Z

hi U
z 0.32 ;7, ~ 2 0
v
U_
U
W
0
p 0-28 u 80
z ~ 8 6=O.3
2~ o
Z 0.@4 =0.5
z u 40
~r m

0.20 1 I I I I I I I 1 I 1 1 I I
LL
0.4 1.0 5-0 10.0
0 I 1 I I I ] i I I ] I i I I

0.4 1-0 5.0 10.0

SOMMERFELD NUMBER
SOMMERFELD NUMBER
Fig 10 Sommerfeld number versus minimum fluid film
thickness Fig 12 Sommerfeld number versus dimensionless fric-
tion coefficient

t 1.0
for each of the elements situated on the edges of
I ~" 6=0.3 the bearing only, which, summarizing, gives the
I,--
z 0.8 dimensionless oil flow coefficient of the bearing. Oil
uJ flow is observed to be decreasing with an increase in
U the value of B for a particular value of S.
LL 6=0.5
0.6 A dimensionless friction coefficient, (R/c)f, of a
tU journal bearing is given by ~9
0 6=0.6

0
U

.J
0.4
I I [ I I I I I I I I i 1
f= [II; } I
2 oxdXdz
u- 0.4
SOMMERFELD
1.0
NUMBER
5.0 10.0
+i1;2 ) 1
~dxdz

Fig 11 Sommerfeld number versus dimensionless oil-

flow coefficient xs (6)

where h2 is the film thickness corresponding to 02.

The value of minimum film thickness in a bearing is
very important from design and manufacturing points of
view. This is calculated from the following expression:
hmi, = c ( l - l a r g e r of the lobe eccentricity ratios
el, e2 and e3)
hmi n is non-dimensionalized
Figure 10 shows curves for S v e r s u s h m i n of a three-
lobe pressure-dam bearing for B = 0.3, 0.5 and 0.6.
For a particular value of S, ,minimum film thickness
decreases as the value of B increases.
The variation of a dimensionless oil-flow coefficient
with a Sommerfeld number is shown in Fig 11. This
coefficient is calculated from the following expression ~9:
The parameter (R/c)f is computed for each element
and then summed to give dimensionless friction coef-
ficient of the bearing. Figure 12 is a plot of curves of
friction coefficients versus Sommerfeld numbers for
= 0.3, 0.5 and 0.6. Friction is observed to be increasing
with an increase in the Sommerfeld numbers for all
as hmin = hmin/C the three cases of B.
Figure 13 shows a comparison of the dimensionless
threshold speed with the variation of Sommerfeld
numbers for three types of bearings. Curve 1 is for a
circular bearing. Curve 2 for an ordinary three-lobe
bearing whereas curve 3 is that of a three-lobe pressure-
dam bearing. The last two curves are drawn for B =
0.5. The minimum dimensionless threshold speed in
the three cases are 2.3, 4.1 and 14.95. Thus, although

q = 15; 2 ~3 ~ ~
3~ (5)
the stability of a three-lobe bearing is better than an
ordinary bearing, it can still be improved by using
pressure dams in the bearing especially in the Sommer-
where dp/dz is the slope of the pressure curves at the feld range of 0.06 to 1.8. The zone of infinite stability
sides of the bearing. The above expression is calculated is also increased from 0.06 to 0.7. However, for
440 1993 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 6
 N. P. Mehta and S. S. Rattan--Three-lobe pressure-dam bearings

100 Conclusions
L/D=1.0 [
Zd =07s I 1. High pressures are generated in lobes 1 and 3 of
T 5O Sd =I.5 / a three-lobe pressure-dam bearing compared to a
s = 90" /
i t =0-25 simple three-lobe bearing. There is no significant
:3
LU difference in the pressures of the second lobe of
Ill
n the two bearings. This makes the pressure-dam
(jr) bearing more stiff than the simple one. Thus
10
more stable operation is expected of a three-lobe
-J ~ , C,RC~LAR BEAR,N0
o X / 2. THREE LOBE BEARING pressure-dam bearing compared to an ordinary
I
I/I
3. THREE LOBE PRESSURE three-lobe bearing.
DAM BEARING
LU
ill:
2. Minimum film thickness and oil-flow coefficient
"I-
~-- STABLE
decrease whereas friction coefficient increases with
increase in ~ for a particular value of Sommerfeld
number.
1 t i i i iiI i i i [ i iiii ~ i i i = ill

0.02
3. The minimum threshold speed of a three-lobe
0-1 0.5 1.0 5-0 10.0
bearing increases from 4.1 to 14.95 if the bearing
$OMMERFELD NUMBER ~- is incorporated with pressure dams and a relief-
track. In general, the stability of a three-lobe
Fig 13 Sommerfeld number versus dimensionless pressure-dam bearing is greater compared to an
threshold speed ordinary three-lobe bearing in the range of S =
0.06-1.8. The zone of infinite stability is increased
from 0.06 to 0.7. Thus, the three-lobe pressure-
dam bearing obtained has a very high minimum
Sommerfeld numbers greater than 1.8 (for lighter threshold speed as well as a greatly increased zone
loads) there is a marginal drop in the minimum value of infinite stability.
of the threshold speed.
The following example will clarify and show the
improvement in stability of a three-lobe pressure dam References
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Consider a rotor operating in three types of bearings: Virginia, May 1977
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clearance Cm = 0.0127 cm is assumed in all the cases, 197-207
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bearing whereas in the case of three-lobe bearing with for finite length step journal bearings. ASLE Transactions 1980,
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Table 1 Comparison of threshold speeds of a
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" M i n i m u m threshold speed Tribology 1987, 109, No. 4, October, 718-720
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1993 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 6