Influence of Operating Condition and Geometry on the Oil Film Thickness in Aeroengine Bearing Chambers

Increasing the efficiency of modern jet engines does not only imply to the mainstream but also to the secondary air and oil system. Within the oil system the bearing chamber is one of the most challenging components. Oil films on the chamber walls are generated from oil droplets, ligaments, or film fragments, which emerge from bearings, seal plates and shafts, and enter the bearing chamber with an angular momentum. Furthermore, shear forces at its surface, gravity forces, and the design of scavenge and vent ports strongly impact the behavior of the liquid film. The present paper focuses on the experimental determination of the film thickness in various geometries of bearing chambers for a wide range of engine relevant conditions. Therefore, each configuration was equipped with five capacitive probes positioned at different circumferential locations. Two analytical approaches are used for a comprehensive discussion of the complex film flow.