Solutions of Finite Journal Bearings With Incomplete Films

Abstract

The Reynolds equation is here solved for journal bearings using new upstream boundary conditions which reflect the fact that starting films in these bearings are often incomplete. The work is an extension of previously published results for short bearings to the case of finite bearings of arbitrary width and arbitrary extent of inlet film. An expression is also derived relating the width of the inlet film with the lubricant feed pressure and the bearing operating parameters, when the lubricant is fed through a hole. The results provide an explanation for the profound lack of agreement between previous theory and experiment with regard to side leakage in journal bearings.