Rotordynamic Analysis of a Shaft Using Magnetorheological and Nanomagnetorheological Fluid Journal Bearings

The rotordynamic behavior of a system supported by journal bearings is critical to its reliability. A suitable method of control of the orbital motion of a shaft in a journal bearing is the use of smart lubricants, in effect fluids with controllable physical properties. There are various categories of smart lubricants. One class of smart lubricants, magnetorheological fluids, are produced as a dispersion of magnetic particles in a carrier fluid, which is usually a conventional lubricant. These particles form chains under the influence of a magnetic field, which hinder the lubricant flow, thus changing its apparent viscosity. Magnetorheological fluids (MRFs) exhibit high yield stress, low delay of response, and relatively low friction while not in their active state. A subcategory of MRFs, nanomagnetorheological fluids (NMRFs) with particle size on the nanometer scale, exhibits lower yield stress than MRFs but display high viscosity. The effect of the MRFs and NMRFs on the rotordynamic behavior of a shaft is calculated through a combined finite element and computational fluid dynamics analysis. Though the MRF with the specific geometrical configuration of the bearing is not sufficiently activated and therefore does not improve the performance of the magnetorheological journal bearing, the NMRF has the ability of limiting up to 82% the amplitude of the vibrations of the shaft.