Analysis of couple stress lubricant in hydrostatic thrust bearing

Abstract

The analysis presented here is an attempt to study the influence of couple stresses on the lubricating film of a hydrostatic stepped thrust bearing using Stokes' couple stress fluid model. This also includes the effects due to circumferential velocity caused by rotation of the rotor. An approximate expression for the pressure distribution is obtained by using an “energy integral method”. A weaker flow rate and higher load capacity are observed for small values of the couple stress parameter. These are the most significant findings which can be applied in the selection of a better lubricant.