LUBRICATION ANALYSIS OF EXTERNALLY PRESSURIZED CIRCULAR POROUS BEARINGS

The present study introduces a mathematical formulation for externally pressurized circular porous bearings. A porous layer is used to cover one of the bearing surfaces. An empirical boundary condition with a n onzero tangential velocity which is known as the velocity slip at the interface, is incorporated into the analysis. The effect of pressure o n lubricant viscosity is also considered. The mathematical model consi sts of two coupled partial differential equations; the first governs t he pressure distribution in the film and the second governs the pressu re distribution in the porous layer. A simultaneous numerical solution of these equations with the boundary conditions is presented. The eff ects of porous layer permeability parameter, lubricant viscosity param eter recess radius, and film thickness on pressure distribution and lo ad-carrying capacity are presented and discussed. (C) 1996 by Elsevier Science Inc.