A potentially powerful effect on the characteristics of plain journal
bearings is local thermal deformation of the bearing surface. Although
there are a few analyses that consider the effect, it is ignored by m
ost journal bearing codes used by industry. There is also almost no ex
perimental data in the literature that focuses on this effect. To gene
rate such data, two identical, 101 mm dia., 57 mm long bearings - one
fabricated from steel and one from bronze - have been tested in a prec
ision journal bearing test rig. Comparisons between shaft displacement
data for steady loading of the two bearings show that the deformation
s are important to consider.