2922 Non-contacting Suspension Support Using the Negative Pressure of Externally Pressurized Thrust Gas Bearing : The characteristics of bearing stiffness for the non-contacting suspension support of the object

Abstract

The complicated phenomena such as pressure depressions, shock waves and the negative pressure, are detected in the air flow with a large bearing clearance or high supply pressure in an externally pressurized gas-lubricated circular thrust bearing. The pressure depression, which decreases the bearing load carrying capacity, is an undesirable phenomenon occurring in this gas bearing. The bearing stiffness for the non-contacting suspension support of the object utilizing the negative pressure of this gas bearing is investigated numerically, and is also discussed in this paper.