A General Analysis of Multi-Recess Hydrostatic Journal Bearings

Abstract

A number of assumptions enable the effects of both pressure and velocity induced flow between adjacent recesses to be included in an analysis of multi-recess hydrostatic journal bearings. Consideration of the rate of energy dissipation within a bearing enables an optimum speed variable to be defined which relates the speed of shaft rotation to the other describing parameters involved. The behaviour of a particular orifice compensated bearing of high aspect ratio was investigated at large values of eccentricity ratio and it was revealed that considerable interaction occurred between the recesses. The performance of the bearing was found to be determined jointly by its pressure ratio, speed variable and, significantly, the direction of loading. Considerable variations inload capacity occurred with changes in these parameters and it is shown that the range of operation of multi-recess bearings may be limited as some recess pressures may drop to the ambient pressure. The application of these results to practical designs is suggested.