Abstract
In this paper the characteristics of disk type hydrostatic thrust bearings supporting concentric loads, simulating the major bearing/seal parts of water hydraulic pumps and motors, are presented. The bearing is made up by combination of stainless steel/stainless steel and stainless steel/plastics. The characteristics are evaluated by the relationship among the load capacity, pocket pressure, film thickness, and leakage flow rate. The main results are as follows: 1) the load capacity expressed by the ratio of hydrostatic balance is not only dependent of the supply pressure (with the same restrictor) but also of the elastic modulus of materials, 2) effects of inlet pressure drop into the bearing land are much smaller than those of elastic deformation, especially in plastics, 3) the calculated results coincide well with the experimental results.
