Passive shape shifting

A compliant design approach for full film bearings

Journal article (2021)

Authors

J.P.A. Nijssen Mechatronic Systems Design - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
R.A.J. van Ostayen Mechatronic Systems Design - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Research Group
Mechatronic Systems Design (Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering) (TU Delft)
Compliant mechanisms Mechanism design Tribotronics Full film bearings Self-adaptive Shape shifting
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Published Date

2021

Language

English

Reuse Rights

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Faculty

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

Department

Precision and Microsystems Engineering

Research Group

Mechatronic Systems Design

Abstract

In tribotronic bearing design active components are used to adapt bearing performance to operating conditions. The principle of self-adaptive bearings has also been presented in literature in which a passive modification of geometry was used for a variation in conditions. This work presents an alternative design approach for self-adaptive bearings. This approach is focused on the shift between two known bearing geometries, where each of them is the preferred solution in a part of the operating regime. Using compliant elements in the bearing design allows for passive shape shifting. Four examples are presented which present this behavior for variable velocity and load conditions. The design approach could possibly provide a cheaper alternative for simple active bearing designs, or could be combined with active components in a tribotronics design to improve existing performance.