Design of partial porous air thrust bearing

A nonlinear model based on the finite element method was provided to compute the static characteristics of partial porous air thrust bearing considering the tangential velocity slip at the bearing-film interface. Good agreement is achieved between theoretical and experimental results of static load capacity, mass flow and static stiffness. The modified Reynolds equation is verified to be proper to investigate the characteristics of externally pressurized partial porous air thrust bearing. The effects of slip on the steady state characteristics, such as mass rate of flow, load capacity and static stiffness were studied, when the feeding parameters of permeability coefficient, height or diameter of partial porous restrictors were changed. Then the results are presented in form of charts. Based on the analysis, the criterion of designing partial porous air thrust bearing was provided. Furthermore, the performance comparison between the thrust bearings with partial porous restrictors and porous restrictors shows that this kind of bearings have prosperous application for their good performance.