A view to the energy dissipation mechanism of a gas foil bearing's structure due to dry friction

The purpose of the present work consists on improving the understanding of the energy dissipation mechanism in the structure of a gas foil bearing. The analysis is based on an analytical model capable of predicting bumps deformation due to a load on the top coupled with dry friction forces at the top and bump ends. Models of mass-individual bump and mass-bump foil subject to a harmonic force are predicted numerically. The nonlinear behavior due to dry friction results in the possibility of stick-slip conditions over the surfaces in contact. The Variation of parameters such as excitation amplitude, mass magnitude, coefficient of friction, and bump geometry were considered. Equivalent dynamic coefficients of stiffness and damping are estimated through a least squares curve fitting, which constitutes a linearization of the system with dry friction. A computer program was developed in order to consider the effect of stick-slip. As a final product of this research the nonlinear model of the structure support was used to obtain a linear and simplified equivalent model. In most studied cases it is possible to represent the system with a linearized model of constant stiffness and viscous damping which is a variable function of the studied parameters and the frequency.