Numerical solution of static characteristics for partial porous aerostatic thrust bearing

Static characteristics of an externally pressurized gas thrust bearing with partial porous restrictors were investigated by means of the numerical method. The pressure distribution equations of the partial porous cylinder and gas film were separately established. For establishing the finite element model, the coordinates of partial porous cylinder and gas film were transformed to the uniform Cartesian coordinate. The load capacity and static stiffness of the bearing with partial porous restrictors were obtained via the finite element method. The theoretical results were in good agreement with the experimental data, which reached the accurate of the theoretical model. Theoretical and experimental results showed that the load capacities of the bearing with partial porous restrictors and orifice restrictors increased as the gas film decreasing and their static stiffness firstly increased and diminished as the gas film increasing. In addition, the bearing with partial porous restrictors and orifice restrictors were compared with the experimental results. Compared with the bearing with orifice restrictors, externally pressurized gas thrust bearing with partial porous restrictors exhibited higher load capacity and static stiffness.