Objectives   The overall stiffness of thrust bearing has an important influence on the natural frequency of the shafting axial vibration, but there is not much research on the influence of the oil film stiffness of the thrust bearing, Therefore, to study the dynamic characteristics of the oil film stiffness.

  Methods  This study analyzes the influence of changes in the fan-shaped thrust bearing pad angle, pad face shape and pad supporting form on the oil film stiffness and the shafting axial vibration by establishing the shafting axial vibration model based on the analysis of the lubrication characteristics of the thrust bearing pad.

  Results   The study results show that the changes in the fan-shaped thrust bearing pad angle, pad face shape and pad supporting form affect the oil film stiffness; as the oil film stiffness increases, the natural frequencies of the first, second and third-order shafting axial vibrations will gradually increase; but when the oil film stiffness is low, the natural frequencies of the first and second-order shafting axial vibrations will rapidly increase as the oil film stiffness increases.

  Conclusions   This study can provide an important theoretical guidance for the designs of the thrust bearing and the shafting axial vibration.