This paper presents a rotordynamic analysis and experimental characterization of a novel concept of a controllable gas foil bearing (C-GFB) with piezoelectric (PZT) actuators. The C-GFB consists of bump foil structures and three PZT actuators, and the PZT actuators push the bump foil structures in different displacements according to the driving voltage, enabling preload control. In order to predict the piezoelectric preload according to the driving voltage, an equivalent spring model for PZT actuators and foil structures is introduced. In addition, PZT parameters (a piezoelectric constant and stiffness) are measured through parameter identification tests using a latch. Next, static lubrication analysis for C-GFB reveals that the gas-film pressure reduces the effect of piezoelectric preload by up to a maximum of 11%, because the piezoelectric actuator has structural compliance so that it is structurally deformed by the pressure. Finally, nonlinear orbit simulation is performed, and the performance of real-time vibration control of C-GFB is evaluated. The real-time preload control is carried out at ~32.6 krpm, where the rotordynamic instability sufficiently occurs. As the driving voltage increases, the instability suppression and delay effect increase. In particular, when controlled at 150 V, the onset speed of the instability increases to 79.1 krpm. Consequently, this study demonstrates that the GFB with piezoelectric preloads is a simple, effective, and real-time method to improve the rotordynamic stability.

In this study, rotordynamic analysis is performed using a simple structural model for the polymer layer of gas foil-polymer bearing (GFPB) composed of an accumulated bump foil and a polymer layer with high structural damping. The simple model that considers the elastic behavior of a cylinder-shaped polymer layer is introduced, and the structural stiffness of the layer is estimated based on Hooke’s law for differential elements in the layer. In addition, the simple model is coupled with the structural stiffness of the bump foil in consideration with a series relationship, which represents the structural model of GFPBs. A GFPB with thickness of 2 mm is fabricated, and the structural model is validated via static-load deflection tests for the GFPB. As a result of model validation, the proposed model is found to be effective in predicting the elastic behavior under the lightly loaded condition of GFPB. Next, the static performances of GFPBs, namely, gas-film pressure, thickness, and journal positions with respect to different polymer layer thickness, are analyzed to evaluate rotordynamic stability of GFPBs. The results indicate that high thickness yields an increase in damping and a decrease in cross-coupled effects. Specifically, in this study, 3 mm-thick polymer gives the best stability performance given the predicted effective damping results. As a result, this work provides a reasonable model for structural elasticity of GFPBs and lays a foundation for the widespread use of GFPBs.