Equilibrium Characteristics of Axial-Groove Gas-Lubricated Bearings

Abstract

This paper contains the description of a new general method for the solution of Reynold’s equation for compressible and incompressible lubrication. A great improvement in numerical stability and speed of convergence is derived for all fluid film geometries including converging-diverging ones. The method is used for the determination of load coefficients and attitude angles of three and four-pad axial-groove cylindrical bearings.