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Bently, D. E.

Publications and source records attributed to Bently, D. E..

Role of circumferential flow in the stability of fluid-handling machine rotors

The recent studies of the dynamic stiffness properties of fluid lubricated bearing and seals by the authors have yielded most of the generalized characteristics discussed and used in this paper. They include bearing and seal nonlinear fluid film properties associated with stiffness, damping, and fluid average circumferential velocity ratio. Analytical relationships yield the rotor system's dynamic stiffness characteristics. This paper shows the combination of these data to provide the fluid-induced rotor stability equations.

Bently, D. E.

Why have hydrostatic bearings been avoided as a stabilizing element for rotating machines

The advantages are discussed of hydrostatic, high pressure bearings as providers of higher margin of stability to the rotor/bearing systems. It is apparent that deliberate use of hydrostatic bearing high pressure lubricated (any gas or liquid) can easily be used to build higher stability margin into rotating machinery, in spite of the thirty years bias against high pressure lubrication. Since this supply pressure is controllable (the Direct Dynamic Stiffness at lower eccentricity is also controllable) so that within some rotor system limits, the stability margin and dynamic response of the rotor system is more readily controllable. It may be possible to take advantage of this effect in the various seals, as well as the bearings, to assist with stability margin and dynamic response of rotating machinery. The stability of the bearing can be additionally improved by taking advantage of the anti-swirling concept. The high pressure fluid supply inlets should be located tangentially at the bearing circumference and directed against rotation. The incoming fluid flow creates stability by reducing the swirling rate.

Bently, D. E.

Identification of bearing and seal dynamic stiffness parameters

The results are presented of two simple tests, mainly steady state load test and squeeze film test, for establishing the coefficients of bearings and seals. It also discusses the methodology of the tests and some observed conclusions from the obtained data. Perturbation testing results are given as an example of verification and proof of validity of the two previous tests.

Bently, D. E.

Rotor internal friction instability

Two aspects of internal friction affecting stability of rotating machines are discussed. The first role of internal friction consists of decreasing the level of effective damping during rotor subsynchronous and backward precessional vibrations caused by some other instability mechanisms. The second role of internal frication consists of creating rotor instability, i.e., causing self-excited subsynchronous vibrations. Experimental test results document both of these aspects.

Bently, D. E.

Stability evaluation of rotor/bearing system

A stability study of rotor/bearing systems is presented. Even though it was limited to study of a fully lubricated bearing subject to oil whirl, and further limited to low eccentricity region for linearity and with only one type of lubricant, it can be seen that the perturbation methodology, together with the sorting of the impedance terms into direct and quadrature with respect to input force can be very useful to the general study of stability. Further, the concept of active feedback should assist to increase knowledge in rotor system stability. While there remains a large amount of study to be accomplished, perhaps some more tools are available to assist this field of analysis.

Bently, D. E.

The parameters and measurements of the destabilizing actions of rotating machines, and the assumptions of the 1950's

The measurability of destabilizing actions is demonstrated for a rotor built to produce a forward circular, self excited malfunction (gas whip). It is argued that the continued use of past modeling technqiues is unfortunate in that it has led to the use of inappropriate words to express what is happening and a lack of full understanding of the category of forward circular whip instability mechanisms.

Bently, D. E.