Prediction of Film Thickness of an Aero-Engine Bearing Chamber using Coupled VOF and Thin Film Model

Singh, Kuldeep; Sharabi, Medhat; Ambrose, Stephen; Eastwick, Carol; Jefferson-Loveday, Richard J

Abstract

In the present work, a coupled volume-of-fluid (VOF) model with Eulerian thin-film model (ETFM) approach is used to predict the film thickness in an aero-engine bearing chamber. Numerical studies are conducted for a wide range of shaft speeds with lubricant and air flow rates of 100 l/hr and 10 g/s respectively, at a scavenge ratio of 4 on a simplified bearing chamber test rig. Air-flow analysis inside the bearing chamber is also assessed. Primary and secondary airflow predictions are found to be in good agreement with the experimental results. The coupled ETFM+VOF approach is found to be sensitive enough to capture the qualitative trend of oil film formation and distribution over the chamber wall. Oil collection near the sump at a low shaft speed and a rotating oil film at a higher shaft speed are well captured.

Citation

Singh, K., Sharabi, M., Ambrose, S., Eastwick, C., & Jefferson-Loveday, R. J. (2019). Prediction of Film Thickness of an Aero-Engine Bearing Chamber using Coupled VOF and Thin Film Model. In Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2019 Turbomachinery Technical Conference & Exposition

• Conference Name: ASME Turbo Expo 2019 Turbomachinery Technical Conference & Exposition
• Start Date: Jun 17, 2019
• End Date: Jun 21, 2019
• Acceptance Date: Jan 30, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Jun 26, 2019
• Publication Date: Jun 26, 2019
• Deposit Date: Oct 17, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 17, 2019
• Book Title: Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2019 Turbomachinery Technical Conference & Exposition
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1530795
• Related Public URLs: https://event.asme.org/Turbo-Expo-2019
• Additional Information: GT2019-91314