ANALYSIS OF NARROW RECTANGULAR AEROSTATIC POROUS THRUST-BEARINGS MOVING WITH A UNIFORM TRANSVERSE VELOCITY

The asymptotic and numerical solutions of the modified Reynolds equation for a narrow rectangular aerostatic porous thrust bearing moving with a uniform transverse velocity are presented. The solutions include the asymptotic expansions for small modified sliding number V, matched asymptotic expansions for large V and numerical calculations of finite difference equation by using a point iteration method. In the analysis, the pressure distribution in porous matrix is obtained in linear form with a thin plate assumption for simplification. The modified Beavers-Joseph slip condition is also assumed on the porous boundary surface. The characteristics of the thrust bearing, such as the load capacity, the mass rate of gas flow and static stiffness, are investigated for given supply pressure and modified feeding number at various modified sliding numbers. It is found that the effects of the modified sliding number are to reduce the load capacity and stiffness, and to increase the mass rate of gas flow.