Fluid Behavior in Microfabricated High Speed Gas Bearings
Abstract
Bearing flows in the micro-gas turbine engine under development at MIT are characterized by much larger Mach and Reynolds numbers than conventional cases as well as significant inertial effects. These features preclude the application of most common bearing analysis methods. Experimental and computational programs were therefore undertaken to explore this unique flow regime. Experimental efforts include testing of steel 26:1 scale and silicon micromachined 1:1 scale bearing rigs, both powered by an air turbine. Computational efforts focus on developing a compressible Navier-Stokes solver for unsteady flows in cylindrical coordinates. Novel aspects of experimental control and instrumentation are detailed and preliminary results of both efforts are presented.
- Publication:
-
APS Division of Fluid Dynamics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- November 1996
- Bibcode:
- 1996APS..DFD..GA09P