Pseudospectral orbit simulation of nonideal gas-lubricated journal bearings for microfabricated turbomachines

A journal bearing simulation tool developed to aid the design of the MIT mi croturbo-machine bearings is described. This tool uses an orbit method with a pseudospectral technique for treating the Reynolds equation. Comparison is made to various published data. Two types of stability chart are present ed and their application to turbomachine bearing design is discussed. Simul ations of imbalance, noncircular geometry, and nonuniform pressures at the bearing ends are also demonstrated.