Experimental Study of Piezoelectric Control for Changing Tilting Pad Journal Bearing Circumferential Angle and Radial Displacement

In order to improve the vibration performance of the oil-lubricated tilting pad bearing system, an experimental approach using a piezoelectric actuator to control two new flexible tilting pads is proposed. The performance test bench of the bearing–rotor system based on a tilting pad bearing with a flexible support is established. The different circumferential angles of the angle bearing tilting pad and the radial displacement of the displacement bearing are tested by a piezoelectric actuator. At the same time, the trajectory of the rotor center under actual operating conditions is analyzed. The experimental results show that the amplitude of the rotor journal can be significantly reduced by controlling the control variables related to the circumferential angle and radial displacement of the bearing bush. Therefore, this control improvement can improve the vibration performance of two new flexible tilting pad bearing–rotor systems. The technical means are provided for the active control of an oil-lubricated tilting pad bearing.