Dynamic characteristics of oil-lubricated herringbone groove bearings

Herringbone grooves machined into fluid film journal bearings have the effect of eliminating the half speed whirl phenomenon normally associated with plain journal bearings. Coupled with the recent development of cost effective manufacturing techniques such bearings may well compete in a wider range of precision or high speed rotor dynamic applications than has so far been possible. In this paper experimental measurements of the dynamic characteristics of an oil lubricated herringbone groove journal bearing are presented and compared to those of a plain journal bearing of the same geometry. The measurements confirm that the herringbone groove bearing is not prone to instability and that it exhibits a high accuracy of rotation and high dynamic stiffness.