Viscous and Inertial Pressure Effects at the Inlet to a Bearing Film

Abstract

A numerical solution of the flow equations in an inlet groove and parallel land is used to evaluate and examine the leading edge ram pressure in parallel surface thrust bearings. The separate viscous and inertial effects on the ram pressure are considered and a correlation with the film Reynolds number developed. A comparison of the computed results with Lewicki's model and with available experimental data shows good agreement. Most treatments of inlet flow consider only inertial effects. It is shown that the inclusion of viscous effects can give inlet ram pressures substantially higher than the component due to inertial effects. Presented at the 42nd Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California May 11–14, 1987