Theoretical Considerations of Molecular Mean Free Path Influenced Slip in Self-Acting Gas-Lubricated Plain Journal Bearings

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of slip under the influence of molecular mean free path on the steady state and dynamic performance characteristics of plain gas journal bearings. The theoretical investigations have been made over a wide range of compressibility number. It is found that slip usually impairs the bearing performance, particularly at low compressibility numbers, A; the effect of slip, however, diminishes with increasing values of A. In fact at high compressibility numbers, theory suggests that slip has a beneficial effect of improving the dynamic performance of the bearing.