Turbulent Shear Flow in Hydrostatic Thrust Bearings

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the effects of a turbulent flow in hydrostatic thrust bearings. Applying an equation representing the "low of wall" to the three-dimensional turbulent shear flow, the local velocity distributions between a rotating disk and a fixed wall are calculated as a function of Reynolds number, local pressure gradient and the ratio of the film thickness to the radius. Using above results, the pressure distribution and the load capacity of hydrostatic thrust bearings with a circular recess are presented. The theoretical results agree well with the experimental data.