Comparison of Exact and Sommerfeld Solution for the Pressure of a Journal Bearing

Abstract

In this paper, we consider the flow in a journal bearing. The Sommerfeld approximate solution is well-known and is discussed in all lubrication texts (1-3). Perhaps less well-known is that an exact solution exists in the applied mechanics literature. It is of interest to compare the two solutions and establish quantitatively the parameter region where the Sommerfeld solution is a good approximation of the exact results. Since micro-bearings have lower radius ratios than typical bearings, the Sommerfeld solution is sometimes not appropriate (4).