Gas-Lubricated Porous Bearings of Finite Length—Self-Acting Journal Bearings

The effects of porosity on the performance of gas bearings are investigated. A thin-wall approximation is developed to simplify the coupling between the Reynolds equation in the fluid film and the three dimensional Laplace equation in the porous matrix. The Newton-Raphson method is used to linearize the modified Reynolds equation and the column method is employed to solve the system of linear equations in matrix forms. The solution of a solid-wall bearing is included as a special case. Bearing characteristics are presented in tables and charts for varied permeabilities, slip coefficients, porous layer thicknesses, eccentricity ratios, length-to-diameter ratios, and for a wide range of compressibility number.