ÉTUDE DE CAS
High-Speed Thermal Research at Embry-Riddle University Achieves Micron-Level Vibration Control
Founded in 1925, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is the world’s leading institution for aviation and aerospace education and research, with more than 155,000 alumni across its Daytona Beach, Prescott, and Worldwide campuses. Its programs span applied science, aviation, business, computing, engineering, safety, and space — all unified by a commitment to technological innovation and excellence in research.
Within ERAU’s Lehman College of Engineering, the Gas Turbine Laboratory (GTL) conducts advanced studies in energy and propulsion systems, focusing on thermal management, turbomachinery, and high-speed system performance.
Before adopting OAV Roller Air Bearings, the GTL team relied on traditional ball bearings and mechanical wear surfaces for their high-speed experimental apparatus. These components introduced excessive vibration, friction, and torque requirements, leading to issues such as:
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Bearing seizure and friction effects disrupting tight tolerances
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Temperature limitations during extended testing
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Vibration-induced errors that compromised data accuracy
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Restricted rotational speeds due to high torque loads
The lab’s objective was to create a high-precision rotating shaft system capable of reaching up to 10,000 RPM with minimal vibration and consistent thermal control — conditions critical to the accuracy of their thermal and aerodynamic studies.
The GTL team integrated two OAV Roller Air Bearings into their experimental apparatus supporting a magnetically-coupled high-speed rotor. OAV’s proprietary air bearing technology provided:
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Frictionless rotation with micron-level air gaps
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Extremely low vibration propagation (less than 10 microns)
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Reduced torque demand, allowing higher operational speeds
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Improved system reliability for long-duration testing
These performance gains enabled the ERAU researchers to collect valuable heat-transfer and aerodynamic performance data during extended experiments, supporting ongoing studies in pin-fin cooling, turbine efficiency, and supercritical fluid dynamics.
Figure 1. Close up of the half-inch OAV Roller Air Bearing (OAVRL0500), the same size roller air bearing that was used by the research team at Embry-Riddle.
Since implementing OAV Roller Air Bearings, Embry-Riddle’s Gas Turbine Lab has experienced an elimination of mechanical seizure and friction-induced failures, significant reduction in vibration amplitude, improving data precision, increased operational stability at high rotational speeds, extended test durations with consistent temperature management, and enhanced research productivity through reliable and repeatable experiments.
“The roller air bearings we purchased have exceeded our expectations and the active communication has been very appreciated. These factors have allowed for the university and OAV to establish a reliable relationship, allowing us to ask questions or gather more information for certain applications.”
— Graduate Research Team, Gas Turbine Laboratory, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
The ERAU team plans to continue long-duration thermal load testing to develop improved cooling methods and bearing protection strategies. Future collaborations may include linear positioning and instrument-traversing applications using additional OAV products.
Through this partnership, OAV Air Bearings continues to play a key role in advancing Embry-Riddle’s mission to pioneer clean energy, aerospace innovation, and sustainable propulsion technologies.
Figure 2. Concept visualization of a high-speed rotating shaft supported by OAV Air Bearings, demonstrating thermal gradients and magnetic coupling for frictionless operation at up to 10,000 RPM with vibrations less than 10 microns.
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This material is based on work supported by the GTL team at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.