• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.302-307
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• 2015

The use of turbocharger in internal combustion engines has increased as it is a key components for improving system efficiency without increasing engine size. Because of increasing demand, many studies have evaluated rotordynamic performance so as to increase rotation speed. This paper presents a linear and nonlinear analysis model for a turbocharger rotor supported by a floating ring bearing. We constructed rotor model by using the finite element method and approximated bearings as being infinitely short. In the linear model, we considered fluid film force as stiffness and damping element. In nonlinear analysis, calculation of the fluid film force involved solving the time dependent Reynolds equation. We verified the developed model by comparing the results to those of previous research. The analysis results show that there are four unstable modes, which are rigid body modes combining ring and rotor motion. As the rotating speed increases, the logarithmic decrement shows that certain unstable modes goes into the stable area or the stable mode goes into the unstable area. These unstable modes appear as sub-synchronous vibrations in nonlinear analysis. In nonlinear analysis frequency jump phenomenon demonstrated in several experimental studies appears. The analysis results also showed that frequency jump phenomenon occurs when the vibration mode changes and the sequence of unstable mode matches the linear analysis result. However, the natural frequency predicted using linear analysis differs from those obtained using nonlinear analysis.