Development of Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis Method Using OpenFOAM and CalculiX for Shaft Vibration of A Sliding Bearing

In sliding bearings used in rotating equipment, understanding the vibration characteristics is crucial to mitigate self-excited vibrations caused by fluid forces. While Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) can analyze complex flows, it is essential to consider the interaction between shaft vibration and fluid forces to obtain more realistic vibration characteristics. In this study, a Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) analysis method for a rotating machinery was developed using OpenFOAM and CalculiX, which are Open Source Software (OSS). In this analysis, the mesh in the fluid domain is rotated to align with the structural domain, enabling FSI analysis that represents complicated shaft vibration in a rotating system. When applied to a sliding bearing, this method enabled the representation of self-excited shaft vibration coursed by the sliding bearing at high rotation speed. Furthermore, the visualization of fluid behavior within the sliding bearing clearance allowed for the analysis of the state of flow.