Magnetic Bearing Shock

Magnetic bearings offer substantial advantages over conventional bearings in high speed and high temperature rotating machines, such as gas turbine engines, in that they do not require oil for lubrication. However, before advanced magnetic bearings can be considered for use in military and aerospace applications, they must be proven to be impervious to shock hazards. This proposal details the effort by which AVCON would develop a five-axis magnetic bearing levitation test rig, for the purpose of demonstrating the ability of advanced magnetic bearings to operate through a shock environment and meet the requirements of MEL-S-901, Grade A, shock impact testing. Such testing will prove that this technology is suitable for use in military applications, such as aircraft gas turbine engines and marine turbine-generators.