Shape variable foil bearings

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Michael Sinapius
• Subject Area: Engineering Design, Machine Elements, Product Development
• Term: from 2015 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 280508116

Gas-lubricated foil bearings are used for small high-speed machines like compressors, cooling turbines, small gas turbines, exhaust turbochargers, vacuum pumps, as well as bearing for textile machines and high speed precision spindles. The aim of the design of foil bearings are low lift-off speeds on the one hand side for low wear during start-up and stop, and the highest possible limit of stability which determines the maximum rotational speed for the bearing.The project will investigate the research hypothesis that an active variation of the shape in foil bearings enables the switch between a state of high load capacity during start-up (with related low lift-off speed) and a state of sufficient high system damping for a stable operation at high speeds. The shape control should be realizable through the application or integration of smart materials.The aim of the second funding period is the experimental verification of the effective switch between a state of high load capacity and a state of sufficient high system damping .

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Major Instrumentation: Prüfstand für die Untersuchung Highspeed-Radialfolienlagern