Agradecimentos: The authors would like to thank Franco Dedini for the valuable discussions and support in the test bench conceptual development, and also the university technicians Maurício Sant’anna, Rosangelo Ferreira, and Mauro Romera. This research was funded by Petrobras oil and gas through a contract with the University of Campinas, and CNPq grant number #307941/2019-1 Ver menos

Abstract: Several theoretical models for predicting the performance of tilting pad journal bearings (TPJB) have been developed by the scientific community over the years. However, reliable validation of the predictions based on the theoretical models, taking into account the complexity of TPJBs, demands robustness in the design and assembly of an improved test rig. Test bench designs for testing hydrodynamic bearings must carefully consider construction details as much as possible to observe the effect from the journal bearing and, consequently, improve the predictability of its dynamical behavior. In this context, there are still relatively few test rigs in the specific literature devoted to isolating the dynamic effects from hydrodynamic bearings for analysis purposes. Therefore, a novel test rig project is described in this work, also involving the design versatility characterized by measurement feasibility in rolling-element bearings and fixed-geometry, hydrodynamic journal bearings. This test rig aims to reproduce the most diverse operating conditions in order to measure the involved physical responses and validate the different models applied to the bearings. Therefore, the bearing performance can be properly evaluated, especially when operating under critical operating conditions, thus providing important contributions to the area of lubrication and rotor dynamics Ver menos