Abstract
Hydrostatic thrust bearings are frequently designed for static operation with parallel surfaces although, in practice, they are required to operate under dynamic conditions and probably in a tilted state. Introducing tilt and dynamic action may result in the operating variables being quite different from those predicted for parallel static conditions.
Theoretical analyses of hydrostatic thrust bearings usually present the performance characteristics in a non-dimensional form. These describe the quasi-static operating conditions, but they do not give a direct indication of changes in individual operating variables because the parameters are interrelated.
This paper utilizes the non-dimensional parameters in a small perturbation analysis that allows the changes in individual operating variables to be evaluated directly. The analysis gives results that are in reasonable agreement with those observed during experimental tests, both for small and large variations in operating parameters.
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