Pressure Distributions in a Superlaminar Journal Bearing

The main features of a comprehensive set of pressure measurements, obtained from a short, plain journal bearing, are presented. The pressure field in the lubricant film was measured in both the circumferential and axial directions over a Reynolds number range of 40–50,000. In cases where the film is noncavitating the pressure distributions are separated into viscous and inertial components. The inertial components are found to agree fairly well with an approximate short bearing theory. Axially averaged, total pressure distributions are compared with the predictions of a simple, empirical theory based on measured friction factors and incorporating inertial effects.