An Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Inter-Orifice Variations on the Performance of an Externally-Pressurized, Orifice-Compensated Air Journal Bearing

Abstract

The performance of an externally-pressurized, orifice-compensated air journal bearing fitted with various combinations of nonuniform supply orifices of known size is compared with the performance of the same bearing fitted with uniform orifices. In general, it is found that even a substantial amount of scatter in orifice size about a mean, design value does not result in a marked deterioration in bearing performance. Furthermore, the bearing load capacity at a given eccentricity may actually be enhanced (at the expense of a relatively smaller reduction in radial stiffness) by using nonuniform orifices, the best arrangement being one where there is a progressive, circumferential variation of orifice size.