Abstract
The characteristics of externally pressurized journal bearings with four recesses and with membrane-type variable-flow restrictors as compensating elements are analytically investigated by using the bearing model of Raimondi and Boyd. The effects of the ratio of the recess pressure at zero eccentricity to the supply pressure (pressure ratio), the eccentricity ratio, the compliance of the membrane and the shaft rotation on the lubricant flow rate, the load capacity and the stiffness of these bearings are presented for a given aspect ratio and inter-recess*** land width-to-diameter ratio. For a non-rotating shaft, it is shown that when the bearing operates at zero eccentricity there is a pressure ratio that gives an optimum bearing stiffness. This pressure ratio is a function of the aspect ratio of the bearing only. Using this pressure ratio, data for the load capacity and stiffness of the bearing are presented for an eccentricity ratio that varies from 0 to 0·1. For these data, the membrane compliances used are those that would give an infinite bearing stiffness if the bearing were operating at zero eccentricity.
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