The Influence of the Molecular Mean Free Path on the Performance of Hydrodynamic Gas Lubricated Bearings

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Abstract
A modified Reynolds equation is derived for gas-lubricated hydrodynamic bearings operating under “slip flow” conditions. Closed analytical solutions are given for a Rayleigh type step-bearing and an inclined plane slider bearing for the case of two-dimensional flow. The influence of the molecular mean free path on the performance of bearings of arbitrary form is obtained by means of a small parameter, perturbation technique.