Empirical correlations for the pressure depression in externally pressurized gas bearings

The pressure depression phenomenon, usually observed in the inlet region of externally pressurized gas bearings, is predicated by constructing a simple empirical model. The same sets of experimental data, used previously by other investigators, were used to obtain the empirical equations which formulate the proposed model. Three correlations are proposed. These are the inlet pressure correlation, the minimum pressure correlation, and the position of the minimum pressure within the inlet region. Comparisons between the values obtained using these correlations and available experimental data show good agreement. Further, a comparison between the present model and another previously proposed model shows that the present one gives better results. In addition, comparison between the proposed model and available experimental data shows that the model correctly predicts pressure variations, which occur due to the effect of pressure depression, within the inlet region. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd