Nonlinear dynamics of flexible rotor supported on the gas foil journal bearings

Investigation on nonlinear dynamics of a flexible rotor supported on the gas foil journal bearings is attempted. A time domain orbit simulation is carried out that couples the equations of rotor motion, unsteady Reynolds equation and foil deformation. The unsteady Reynolds equation is solved using control volume formulation with power law hybrid scheme and Gauss–Seidel method. The nonlinear dynamic response is analyzed using disc center and journal center trajectories, Poincaré maps, Fast Fourier transforms and bifurcation plots. The analysis is carried out for different system parameters, namely, rotating speed, unbalance eccentricity, compliance and loss factor of gas foil bearing. The analysis reveals highly nonlinear behavior with periodic, multi-periodic and quasiperiodic motion of the disc and the journal center. The present analysis can be useful in designing and selection of suitable operating parameters of rotor bearing system.