Abstract
In this paper, the main objective is to determine the mechanical responses due to the axial forces on thrust bearing for an automotive turbocharger. The rotating shaft in a turbocharger is supported by the bearings, usually oil-lubricated radial journal bearings and a thrust bearing. The axial forces acting on the thrust bearing have significant influences on the mechanical friction losses, which reduces the efficiency and performance of high-speed turbocharger. There are simple well-known formulas such as Petroff's equation for calculating the mechanical frictional losses in these types of bearings. However, it's difficult to estimate the accurate axial forces from this formula. Thus, this work determined the relationship between thrust forces and strains by measuring and calculating the strains on thrust bearing and compared both results. The result shown that behaviors of axial strain are changed linear and non-linear depend on the boundary condition. Therefore, it's possible to predict the magnitudes of the axial forces by measuring the strains under operating turbocharger.