Abstract
This paper deals with an analytical and experimental investigation to predict the axial thrust load that results from turbocharger operating conditions. The Axial forces acting on the turbocharger thrust bearing are caused by the unbalance between turbine wheel gas forces and compressor wheel air forces. It has a great influence on the friction losses, which reduces the efficiency and performance of high-speed turbocharger. This paper presents the calculation procedure for the axial thrust forces under operating conditions in a turbocharger. The first step is to determine the relationship between thrust forces and strains by experimental and numerical methods. The analysis results were verified by measuring the strains on a thrust bearing with the specially designed test device. And then, the operating strains and temperatures were measured to inversely calculate the thrust strains which were compensated the thermal effects. Therefore it's possible to calculate the magnitudes of the thrust forces under operating turbocharger by comparing the regenerated strains with the rig test results. It will possible to optimize the design of a thrust bearing for reducing the mechanical friction losses using the results.
