The Determination of the Characteristics of Hydrostatic Bearings through the use of the Electric Analog Field Plotter

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Abstract
In many applications of hydrostatic lubrication to journal and thrust bearings, determination of flow, load carrying capacity and film thickness is at best an approximation. Anything but the simplest shape is difficult to analyze. The simplified form of Reynolds' equation which applies to hydrostatically lubricated bearings of constant film thickness is analogous to the electric field equation which describes the voltage distribution in a conducting sheet of constant thickness. This analogy suggests the use of the electric analog field plotter to determine the characteristics of hydrostatic bearings. In this paper the theoretical basis for this method is discussed. In addition, the solution of a journal bearing is presented along with equations for several other useful shapes. Experimental verification of the journal bearing solution is presented, which indicates that this method may be employed with considerable accuracy.

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