Lubrication of a Porous Bearing—Reynolds’ Solution

Abstract

The problem of lubrication of a journal in a porous bearing is considered. A Reynolds equation modified to accommodate mass transfer with the fluid-saturated bearing is solved, and the influence of the permeability and radius ratio of the bearing is examined. The effects of the bearing flow are such as to reduce the magnitude of the pressure and shift the maximum away from the position of minimum gap. In extreme cases, the integrated resultant of the pressure forces is so reduced as to become comparable in magnitude with the normally negligible shear stress resultant. This latter resultant has an opposing sense so that the total load capacity of the bearing is greatly reduced as a result of bearing flow.