Lubrication and bearing design The 21000seat grandstand of t

Lubrication and bearing design

The 21,000-seat grandstand of the Mile High Stadium in Denver, home of the Broncos, sits on water-lubricated hydrostatic rubber hearing pads. When the pads are pressurized, the entire section of the grandstand floats on a film of water and is moved back 145 feet with very little effort. It is then set down in place, producing an arena suitable for playing baseball. The total weight of the stand is 9,000,000 pounds. Select a supply pressure and design appropriate number of hydrostatic pads and the required capillary compensating elements for this application.

Solution

GIVEN:- Number of seats n = 21000, Total weight of the grand stand W = 9000000 lbs

TO FIND:- Approprate number of pads (N) = ?, Supply pressure selection P =?, and Required capillary compensating elements =?

SOLUTION:- The per seat weight (w) = 9000000 / 21000 = 428.57 lbs = 1905 N

A typical hydrostatic bearing pad has a capacity to lift 6000N with a supply pressure of maximum P = 2 MPa

So, the number of pads required N = 21000 / 3 = 7000 rubber pads (ANSWER),

with a supply pressure of P = 2 MPa per pad (ANSWER)

Compensating elements dimensions to be suitably taken. (ANSWER)