Analysis of Noncircular Gas Journal Bearings

Abstract

The compressible Reynolds Equation under isothermal conditions was solved for finite elliptical and 3-lobe bearings with the load vector acting in any arbitrary direction over the full range of 360 deg. Envelopes of minimum and maximum eccentricity for a given set of operating conditions are provided, the first to yield maximum load capacity, and the second to assist stability by a choice of the highest possible ε. Some values of the spring and damping forces are also given and it is shown that in comparison with conventional bearings, the non-circular designs offer a significant advance in stiffness, particularly for low ε, when instability is most often encountered.