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Hydrostatic Bearing

Viscous Flow Through Rectangular Slot

The flow of lubricating oil through a rectangular slot is shown in Fig. 1.

L: length of the slot in the direction of flow

b and h: dimensions of the slot perpendicular
to the direction of flow. b  h so losses at
sides are neglected
The pressure difference between the two
sides of the central slice is
= pa − pb = p
The downward force due to this pressure
difference is
= 2 xbp
On account of this force, the rectangular slice
of width (2x) is extruded down. The shear
resistance on both sides of central slice is
dv dv
= ηA = η 2 Lb
dx dx
Fig. 1: Viscous flow through slot:
(a) Rectangular slot (b) Velocity distribution

Considering equilibrium of forces in the vertical direction,

dv
2 xbp = −η 2 Lb (1)
dx
dv
Velocity is maximum at centre. The negative sign is introduced because < 0 i.e. on
dx
increase of x (moving from centre to ends) velocity v decreases. Integrating the above
expression,
 p  x 2
v = −  +C (2)
 L  2
h  p  h 2
Applying boundary conditions: v = 0 at x =   we get C =  
2  L  8
On substituting value of C in Eqn. (2) and rearranging
 p  h 2 
v =   − x 2  (3)
 2L  4 
From Eqn. (3) we can obtain maximum velocity at x = 0
 ph 2 
v max =  
 8L 

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Since velocity profile is parabolic the average velocity, v avg will be two third of maximum
velocity.
2  ph 2 
v avg =  
3  8L 
The volume flow rate, Q through the slot is given by

2  ph 2  pbh 3
Q = v avg bh =  bh = (4)
3  8L  12L
This is the fundamental equation for viscous flow through the rectangular slot which is used
in designing hydrostatic bearing

Hydrostatic Step Bearing

The hydrostatic step bearing is shown in Fig. 2. The recesses, or pockets, are provided
on one of the surfaces to a depth  in order to increase the resultant pressure. The
pressure in the recess is constant over the whole pocket area if /ho > 10 for liquid
lubricants.

W : thrust load
Ro: outer radius of the shaft
Ri: radius of the recess
Pi: supply of inlet pressure
Po: outlet or atmospheric pressure
ho: fluid film thickness
Q: volume flow rate of the lubricant
: dynamic viscosity of the lubricant
The lubricant is flowing radially outward
through the annulus of radii Ri and Ro and
leaves at the periphery of the shaft.
Fig. 2: Hydrostatic step bearing

Consider an elemental ring of radius r and

thickness (dr) as shown in Fig. 3a. The
flow of the lubricant through this
elemental ring is given by Eq. (4). In this
equation, the length L in the direction of
flow is (dr) while the width b is (2r) and
h = ho p = dp. Substituting these values
in Eqn. (4)
dp 2rho
3
Q=− (5)
12dr
The negative sign is introduced in the
Fig. 3: Pressure and velocity distribution in equation because pressure drops as the
hydrostatic step bearing radius r increases or (dp/dr) is negative.

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Integrating Eqn. (5)

6Q
p=− ln r + C (6)
ho
3

6 Q
Applying the boundary condition: p = 0 at r = Ro we get C = ln Ro
ho
3

Substituting the value of C in Eqn (6)

6Q  Ro 
p= ln  (7)
ho  r 
3

Applying another boundary condition: p = Pi at r = Ri

6Q Ro
Pi = ln (8)
ho
3
Ri
Rearranging Eqn. (8)
Pi ho
3

Q= (9)
R
6 ln o
Ri
Eqn. (9) is used for flow requirement in bearing

Load carrying capacity

The load carrying capacity of the bearing is the sum of the load supported by the
central recess area, where the pressure Pi is constant and the load supported by the
annular area from the radius Ri to radius Ro, where pressure p varies. The distribution
of pressure is shown in Fig. 3b. Mathematically it is expressed as

Ro

W = Pi Ri +  p 2rdr
2
(10)
Ri

Using Eqn. (7)

Ro
6Q  Ro 
W = Pi Ri +  h ln  2rdr
2

 r 
3
Ri o

R
12Q o  Ro 
ho Ri  r 
W = Pi Ri +
2
Or, 3
ln rdr (11)

Integrating Eqn. (11) by parts

12Q   Ro  r 2  r  R  r 2  
Ro Ro

W = Pi Ri + ln  −    − 2o  dr 

2

ho   r  2 Ri  o 
r  2  
3
R
Ri 
12Q   Ro  Ri r 
2 Ro

W = Pi Ri +  −   +  dr 
2
Or, 3
ln  
ho   Ri  2 Ri 2 

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12Q   Ro  Ri 
2 Ro
r2
Or, W = Pi Ri +
2
 − ln   + 
ho   Ri  2
3
Ri 
4


12Q   Ro  Ri 2 Ro 2 Ri 2 
W = Pi Ri + − ln  + −
2
3  
Or,
ho   Ri  2 4 4 

Using Eqn. (9)

2Pi   Ro  Ri 2 Ro 2 Ri 2 
W = Pi Ri +
2
 − ln   + − 
R   R  2 4 4 
ln o i
Ri

2Pi  Ro Ri 
2 2
W = Pi Ri − Pi Ri + −
2 2
R  
Or,
ln o  4 4 
Ri

Or, W=
(
Pi Ro − Ri
2 2
) (12)
2 R
ln o
Ri
Frictional Power Loss

Assuming that the circumferential component of the fluid velocity varies linearly
across the film and that viscous friction within the recess is neglected (as /ho > 10)
then frictional power loss can be determined by considering the elemental ring of
radius r and radial thickness dr illustrated in Fig. 3a. The viscous resistance for this
ring, dF is given by
U
dF = A
ho
2rN
Or, dF = 2rdr
ho
N 2
Or, dF = 4 2 r dr
ho
N 3
Friction torque for this elemental ring = dF * r = 4 2 r dr
ho
Total frictional torque, T is
Ro
N
T = 4  r dr
2 3

ho Ri

Or, T = 2
N
ho
Ro − Ri
4 4
( )
Frictional power loss due to viscous dissipation, Hv is

H v = T =
2 3 N 2
ho
Ro − Ri
4 4
( ) (13)

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Total power loss required will consist of two parts (i) Frictional power loss, Hv (ii)
Pumping loss, Hp.
The pumping loss, Hp is
H p = Q(Pi − Po ) = QPi as Po (gauge pressure) is zero

Pi ho
2 3

Or, Hp =
R
6 ln o
Ri
Hence total power loss, Ht is
2 3 N 2
( )
Pi ho
2 3

Ht = Hv + H p = Ro − Ri +
4 4
(14)
ho R
6 ln o
Ri
Please note from the above equation that Hv is inversely proportional to ho and Hp is
proportional to ho . Optimum film thickness, (ho )optimum for minimum total power
3

loss is obtained by differentiating Ht with respect to ho and equating to zero.

1/ 4
 
(ho )optimum =  C1  (15)
 3C 2 

( ) and C Pi
2

Where C1 = 23N 2 Ro − Ri =
4 4
2
Ro
6 ln
Ri
Questions
1. The pad of a square hydrostatic thrust bearing, with four pockets of 150 x 150 mm,
is shown in Fig. 4. The thrust load is 500 kN and the film thickness is 0.15 mm. The
viscosity of the lubricant is 250 cP. The pressure in the area A bordering the pockets
can be assumed to be uniform and equal to the supply pressure. The pressure
distribution in the area B (shown by hatching lines) is assumed to be linear, varying
from supply pressure at the inner edge to atmospheric pressure at the outer edge. For
calculating the flow of the lubricant, it can be assumed that the area B is straightened
out and has length equal to the mean length shown by the dotted line. Calculate
(i) supply pressure; and (ii) flow requirement in litres/min.

Fig. 4

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2. The hydrostatic thrust bearing of a generator consists of six pads is shown in Fig.
5a. The total thrust load is 900 kN and the film thickness is 0.05 mm. The viscosity of
the lubricant is 65 cSt. Neglecting the flow over corners, each pad can be
approximated as a circular area of 500 mm and 100 mm as outer and inner diameters
respectively. This is shown in Fig. 5b. The density of the lubricating oil is 0.9 g/cc.
Calculate (i) the supply pressure; and (ii) the flow requirement.

Fig. 5: (a) Six pad Bearing (b) Dimensions of Pad

3. The following data is given for the hydrostatic step bearing of a vertical turbo
generator:
thrust load = 450 kN
shaft diameter = 400 mm
recess diameter = 250 mm
shaft speed = 750 rpm
viscosity of lubricant = 30 cP
Draw a neat sketch showing the effect of film thickness on energy losses. Calculate
the optimum film thickness for minimum power loss.

4. The dimensions of a hydrostatic thrust bearing, with a rectangular oil-groove A, are

given in Fig. 6. The pressure distribution can be assumed to be linear, varying from
supply pressure at the inner edge of the groove to atmospheric pressure at the outer
edge of the pad. The flow over the corners can be neglected. The thrust load is 100 kN
and the film thickness is 0.02 mm. The viscosity of the lubricant is 300 cP.
Calculate (a) supply pressure; and (b) requirement of flow.

Fig. 6