Elastohydrostatic lubrication of capillary compensated circular pad thrust bearings

Abstract

The effect of elastic deformation of the circular thrust pad was considered in determining the performance characteristics of a capillary compensated hydrostatic circular thrust bearing. The matched solution of the elastohydrostatic problem was obtained by using the finite element method and an iterative procedure. For the convenience of bearing designers a nondimensional deformation coefficient C ̄ d is defined in terms of p s , E, t h and h f . The performance characteristics of circular pocket thrust bearings are presented in terms of pocket pressure, load capacity, bearing flow, fluid film stiffness and damping coefficients for various values of the restrictor design parameter C ̄ s2 and the deformation coefficient C ̄ d . The values of the damping coefficients C ̄ are compared for circular and annular pocket bearings.