LAUSR

This paper presents performance during prolonged running of the acoustic bearing when PZTs are switched off and when they are switched on. The effect of active PZT on shaft’s displacements in X and Y directions is clearly demonstrated. Performance of the acoustic bearing was also assessed when an impulse force was applied to the running shaft at speed. Once again the benefits of having PZTs active are beyond doubt. The instability caused by the impulse force was rapidly mitigated as the bearing returned to its usual dynamics within around two second. In contrast, dynamics of the acoustic bearing operating with PZTs switched off was significantly disturbed and in the time of the test never returned to its status before application of the impulse force.