CHINESE JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Vol. 23,aNo. 4,a2010 ·451·

DOI: 10.3901/CJME.2010.04.451, available online at www.cjmenet.com; www.cjmenet.com.cn

Entrance Effect on Load Capacity of Orifice Compensated Aerostatic Bearing

with Feeding Pocket

LONG Wei* and BAO Gang

School of Mechatronics Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China

Received October 17, 2009; revised May 24, 2010; accepted June 10, 2010; published electronically June 11, 2010

Abstract: The current research of the aerostatic thrust bearing mainly focuses on the porous material bearing and inherent compensated
air bearing, which aims at obtaining small physical dimension and large load capacity. Although porous material bearing appears larger
load capacity, materials anisotropy itself and void content distortion caused in heat-treating, and machining processes add greater
complexity to internal flow transfer process. Inherent compensated air bearing has the advantages of simple structure and good stability,
but its load capacity and static stiffness is not worth somewhat. In this paper, based on hydrostatic lubrication theory, finite volume
method is presented for taking entrance effects into account in computing pressure distribution, load capacity and mass flow rates of
circular aerostatic thrust bearings. Technical analysis, numerical simulations and laboratory demonstration tests of influence of pocket
diameter and pocket depth on loading capacity of aerostatic thrust bearing are carried out on simple orifice compensated air bearings
with feeding pockets. The static parameters, such as air consumption and pressure distributions, are measured as a function of supply
pressure and air gap height for several different orifices and pockets size. Entrance effects are described in term of typical throttling
types, and the effect of pocket diameter and pocket depth on load capacity is systematically described respectively. The proposed
research results uncover the causation of throttling action of the orifice compensated air bearing with feed pocket and further develop
and improve the design theory of air bearing.

Key words: aerostatic thrust bearing, feeding pocket, entrance effects

feed space. In 1996, MOHAMED, et al[6], gave a detailed

∗
1 Introduction investigation of relationship on the working behavior of
external pressured air bearing and feeding types in
French scholar HIRN[1] firstly proposed air lubrication
throttling orifice. Their research results, for the first time,
around the mid-19th century. In 1828, WILLIS published
attracted attention on feeding system and included into the
an article about air pressure in parallel plate flow after
influence factors of performance study of air bearing. In
orifice compensation. The research model in that article is
1997, FOURKA, et al[7], offered simulation programs for
considered as the first prototype of air bearing. And
different throttling orifices. In 2004, RENN, et al[8],
American researchers firstly tested the idea with gyroscope
performed dynamic calculation and experiment research on
in 1932. Until the 1960s, POWELL[2] had firstly taken up
flow characteristic of orifice compensated aerostatic thrust
engineering design of static performance of orifice type air
bearing. Since the throttling coefficients mentioned were
bearing by using gage pressure ratio method. In 1975,
estimated by empirical equations, applicable scopes of
STIFFLER[3] proposed an optimal design method for best
these coefficients are limited. In 2005, KHATAIT, et al[9],
static stiffness and damping, in which, he postulated ideal
proposed the research method of air bearing under given
line source flow in supply hole in order to revise throttling
condition of design parameters and working state. An
coefficient, and the estimation error in this way may be
efficient method for improving their performance with low
large. In 1980, KAZIMIERSKI, et al[4], applied finite
cost was provided by using numerical simulation of
difference method for calculation and evaluation of
computational fluid dynamics and experiment on various
aerostatic thrust bearing with feed pocket. However, their
air bearing types, except for the bearings with feed pocket.
research results still gave approximate results. In 1985, by
Inlet throttling coefficient of orifice compensated aerostatic
using experimental method, BOEFFY[5] found influences
bearing with feed space was derived by BELFFORTE[10]
of orifice diameter and feed space size on static stiffness
with experiments in 2006. For the first time, he took notice
and stability of aerostatic thrust bearing, but they took only
of the secondary throttling action in computing air
trough type feed space without learning more shapes of
consumption and pressure distribution. Regrettably, his
research results did not provide the exact relationship
* Corresponding author. E-mail: daifor@163.com between loading parameter of air bearing and structural
This project is supported by Basic Scientific Research Project of
National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. k1402040202)
parameters of both orifice and feed pocket.
 LONG Wei, et al: Entrance Effect on Load Capacity of Orifice Compensated Aerostatic Bearing
YBIAN Keke, et al: Global Continuity Adjustment and Local
·452· Shape Optimization
with Feeding Pocket Technique for Complex Trimmed Surface ModelY

Aerostatic bearings are critical components in any

precision motion stage. In estimating the behavior of
externally pressurized gas bearing, the flow state of the
whole process and pressure distribution of the feeding
system should be known. The flow through this system is a
complicated phenomenon due to different structural
grouping. This paper offers a good discussion on these
attempts and practical methods. The intact flow process
includes isentropic section (flow passing through the
orifice), transitional section (flow out off the orifice and
before the entry of the laminar flow in the air film) and the
isothermal section (extensively developed laminar flow
without slip at the boundaries between the fluid and the
plates). To clarify this problem, recondite researches on
effects of particulars should be taken into account. A
routine assumption for flow process and the parameters
selecting of structure should be done as follows. Fig. 1. Air bearing with central
orifice and pocket
(1) The pressure at the entry of the orifice is the supply
pressure ps. This pressure immediately downstream the
orifice restrictor is the static pressure pd at the exit.
(2) In the flow in the bearing gap, the inertia forces due
to acceleration can be neglected compared to the friction
forces due to viscous shearing. Laminar flow conditions
exist at all points in the air film and develop sufficiently.
The inlet pressure of the air film has an equal value to pd,
and the outlet pressure of the air film has an equal value to
the ambient pressure pa. Fig. 2. Structure of orifice-type system
Given above assumptions, the flow process is simplified with feeding pocket
and possible to be calculated. However, all these theories
ignore the transitional section, from orifice’s outlet to air The pressure distributions of the first and the last sections
film’s inlet, where the air flow state is complex and have detailed presentations in Ref. [3]. The connective
alternates with different compounding-forms of structures section can be equivalent to a restrictor with local pressure
of orifices and feeding pockets. No but the behavior of this loss. For the same orifice, different sizes of pockets will
section plays a vital role in the air bearing efforts. There is bring different discharge coefficients of this equivalent
no effective existing formula for its estimation yet. restrictor for the working bearing.
CARFAGNO[11] called this phenomenon entrance effect in Flow areas A11, A12, A21, A22, are defined as follows:
air bearing.
This paper derives the mathematical model of air film πd 2 π d02
according to its working principle of throttling action first, A11 = , A12 = πd (h + δ ), A21 = , A22 = π d 0 h,
4 4
and then different throttling types due to structure
parameters of feed pocket are proposed by theoretical where A11 —Orifice compensated cutting surface of inlet
method. Finally the availability and feasibility of system hole,
are verified by the numerical simulation and experiment. A12 —Inherent compensated cutting surface of
inlet hole,
2 Analysis and Mathematical model A21 —Orifice compensated cutting surface of feed
pocket,
Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show the schematic drawings of a A22 —Inherent compensated cutting surface of feed
typical orifice compensated aerostatic bearing with feeding pocket,
pocket. The first requirement in consummating the design d —Diameter of inlet hole,
scheme of orifice-type aerostatic bearings is to find a way d0 —Diameter of feed pocket,
to express the information contained in the air of this δ —Depth of feed pocket,
section. In this paper, the main emphasis is pressure h —Depth of air film.
distribution on the bearing surface from the orifice’s outlet Table 1 shows different compounding structures of
to the entry of air film, which will seriously affect and orifices and feeding pockets, which give birth to different
restrain the whole bearing’s static characteristics and restricting effects on air flow in transitional section as
stability. follows. These structures will definitely produce different
 CHINESE JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING ·453·

pressure distributions on the bearing surface. follows:

Table 1. Restricting effects caused by different 抖骣 p ÷ 抖骣 ççH 3 p p ÷

ççH p ÷ ÷= 12η ( pH ) +
3
compounding structures ç ÷+ ÷
抖x 桫 x ç
抖y 桫 y÷ t
Case Relation of flow area Structure request
轾 抖( pH ) ( pH )
ïìï 4d0 h < d 2 6η 犏
(u + u2 ) + (v1 + v2 ) , (1)
1 A22　min(A11, A12, A2) í 犏1 抖x y
ïï d 0 h < d (h + δ )
î
臌
2 A12　A22　min(A11, A21) d (h + δ ) < d0 h < d 2 4
where H —General thickness of the air film,
ïìï d < 4(h + δ )
ïï H = h + δ iδ ,
3 A11　A12　A22　A21 í d (h + δ ) < d0 h
ïï δi —Kronecker delta,
ïïî 4h < d 0
ìï
ìï d 0 < 4h
ï ïï 1, x 2 + y 2 < Di ,
4 A11　A21　min(A12, A22) í 2 ï 2
ïïî d 0 < 4d (h + δ ) δ i = ïí
ïï Di D
ìï d 2 < 4d h
ïï 0 ïï 0, < x2 + y2 < ,
ï 4h < d
í
ïî 2 2
5 A11　A22　min(A12, A22) 0
ïï
ïï d 0 h < d (h + δ ) η —Viscidity of pressurized air,
î
u1 , u2 —Velocities in x direction in the air film,
v1 , v2 —Velocities in y direction in the air film,
Case 1: When A22 is minimum, the air flows out off the
orifice and enters the air film directly at A22 as form of p —Pressure in the air film.
inherent compensation. The pocket structure has no Parameters of different structures and working
restricting effect on the fluid flow. conditions of the circular aerostatic thrust bearings are
Case 2: When A12 is minimum, the air flow out off the shown in Table 2. Valuing ranges of d, d0 and δ are shown
orifice enters the air pocket at A12 as form of inherent in Table 3.
compensation firstly. If A22 is hypo-minimum, that is A12　
A22　min(A11, A21), the air flow out off the pocket enters Table 2. Parameters of models with different
the air film at A22 as form of inherent compensation structures and working conditions
secondly. Parameter Value
Case 3: When A11 is minimum and A11　A12　A22　A21, Diameter of air bearing D/mm 79
Air gap h/μm 20
the air flows out off the orifice at A11 as form of simple
Diameter of orifice circle Do/mm 20
orifice compensation firstly, and then enters the air pocket Number of inlet orifices n 6
at A12 as form of inherent compensation secondly, and Pressure of circumstance pc/MPa 0.1
finally enters the air film at A22 as form of inherent Pressure of inlet pi/MPa 0.4
　
compensation thirdly after passing through the pocket. Density ρ/(kg • m 3) 1 226
　
Case 4: When A11 is minimum and A11　A21　min(A12, Viscosity μ 1.833×10 5
Heat ratio κ 1.4
A22), the air flows out off the orifice at A11 as form of
simple orifice compensation firstly. Then, the air flows out
Table 3. Structures parameters of air bearings with
off the orifice and enters the air film at A21 as form of different type of pockets
simple orifice compensation secondly.
Parameter
Case 5: When A11 is minimum and A11　A22　min(A12, Case Value ranges for
A22), the air flows out off the orifice at A11 as form of D/mm d0/mm δ/mm
d 0 and δ
simple orifice compensation firstly, and then enters the air ìïï 0.11 < d 0 < 0.151 25
1 0.11 0.11　0.15 0.007　10.000 í
film at A22 as form of inherent compensation secondly. ïïî δ > 0.18d 0 - 0.02

It is important to pay attention that since d0　4h is ïìï 0.11 < d 0 < 0.15
2 0.11 0.12　0.15 0.002　0.007 í
required in most conditions, the pocket diameter d0, as well ïïî δ < 0.18d 0 - 0.02

as orifice diameter d, should be very small especially in ìï 0.11 + 5.5δ < d 0 < 10
ïï
3 0.11 0.17　9.00 0.010　0.890 ïí d = 0.11 < d
small air gap. Too small values of d0 and d will not only ïï 0

bring great machinery difficulty, but also feed too small ïîï 0.007 5 < δ
4 0.04 Null
amount of pressurized air to the area in the bearing ìïï 0.151 25 < d0
clearance. In these states, the load capacity of the bearing is 5 0.11 0.15　5.61 0.020　9.000 í
ïïî 0.18d 0 - 0.02 < δ
limited.
To clarify the detailed restricting effects of the aerostatic
In steady state with small relatively velocity between the
bearings with orifice-feeding pocket structures, the author two surfaces of the air bearing, we can ignore the ratio of
builds a typical mathematic model according to hydrostatic velocity caused by velocity difference of flow. Eq. (1) can
lubrication theory, and deduces its Reynolds equations as be simplified as
 LONG Wei, et al: Entrance Effect on Load Capacity of Orifice Compensated Aerostatic Bearing
YBIAN Keke, et al: Global Continuity Adjustment and Local
·454·
with Feeding Pocket
抖ç骣 3 p ÷ 抖ç骣 3 p ÷
çH p ÷ + çH p ÷ = 0.
抖x ç桫 x ÷ 抖y ç桫 y÷
÷ function of the pocket size. The schematic drawing and test
Since the gap is fixed when the circular thrust aerostatic
bearing is in stable working conditions, Eq. (2) can be
solved as Laplace equation with h 　　const.
Because the numerical computation is complex, the
partial differential equations for describing the physical
phenomena can not get exact solutions. Thereby, the finite
volume method[12], which is an efficient solution algorithm,
has been applied to the design and simulation of the
aerostatic bearings. The process of analysis is shown in Fig.
3. FLUENT software is used for computational fluid
dynamics(CFD) simulation. Three-dimensional model of
the air bearing is made and mesh is creased by using
mapped meshing technique. The iterative solutions of
pressure distribution (p/MPa), load capacity (F/N) and mass
flow rate (q/(kg　s)) can be obtained. Fig. 4 shows the
contour plot of pressure distribution on bearing surface. We
can obviously see from the plot that the pressure in
transitional section is changeable in the extreme.
Fig. 3. Process of finite volume method analysis
Fig. 4. Plot of pressure distribution
on air bearing’s surface (atm)
3 Design and Test Scheme
An experimental set-up is constructed which makes it
possible to measure the pressure distribution, static load
Shape Optimization
Technique for Complex Trimmed Surface ModelY
capacity and mass flow rate of circular aerostatic thrust
orifice-type bearing with supply systems of this type as a
(2)
set-up are shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, respectively.
Fig. 5. Schematic drawing of test rigs for measurement
of the static identities of planar air bearing
1. Source air 2. Cylinder 3. Lever 4. Inductance micrometer
5. Location splint 6. Air bearing 7. Air film 8. Marble platform
9. Stop pin of transducer 10. Strain gauge force transducer
11. Reducing valve 12. Air source filtrating equipment
Fig. 6. Test table for measurement of the static identities
of planar air bearing
The bench frame consists of a push rod which is driven
by an air cylinder. The air gap is established between the
bearing under test and the stationary granite table. The
height of the air gap is determined by moving the bearing
vertically, and is measured by micrometric transducer.
Bearing movement is accomplished by the push rod
controlled by an air cylinder and a ball joint housed in plate
which is positively connected to the bearing. Thrust on the
bearing is measured by a load cell. Dowel prevents the load
cell from rotating. The stationary granite table makes it
possible to determine pressure distribution along the air gap
below the bearing under test. The stationary granite table
face is provided with two 　 0.2 mm holes connected to the
outlet ports, which are connected to pressure transducers.
One bearing adapter is used between the load and the
specimen bearing. The contact between the bearing and
adapter is through a ball joint, which provides extra degree
of freedom to the bearing so that it can align freely to the
surface.
Firstly, the pressurized air is fed to the filter and the drier,
and then fed to the bearing. In order to measure the air gap,
we adopt two sets of contact-type displacement probes,
which shall be placed on the top surface of the bearing and
 CHINESE JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING ·455·

180° apart. This distribution of probes can eliminate error obtained with the pocket depth δ 　　10 μm for d1
due to tilting of the bearing. The measurement 　　0.11　0.15 mm. For small depth δ 　　10 μm, load
instrumentation is shown in Fig. 7. capacity rises rapidly with increase of pocket diameter d0,
and reaches maximum value Fmax 　　233.34 N at d0
　　0.126 mm. The radial pressure distribution at this time
is shown in Fig. 11. When d0 　　0.126 mm, the load
capacity almost keeps constant within decrement ΔF　Fmax
　　2.57%.

Fig. 7. Measuring probes

with specimen bearing

Four sets of orifice-type air bearings with circular

pockets were used for testing. The air gap is measured for
each load. Static load plots and mass flow rate plots are all
obtained. But there are a lot of uncertainties and
disturbances in the data. Therefore, polynomial curve
fitting should be done to get the load capacity curve and air
consumption curve.

4 Results and Analysis

For each case of bearing, air consumption and pressure
distribution on bearing surface in radial direction across the
pad are measured. And it is necessary to maintain the thrust
surfaces of the bearing under test and the stationary granite
table parallel. Tests are carried out with air gap height
h 　　20 μm for all orifice geometries. For each case, a
series of pressure distributions are obtained with relative
supply pressure ps 　　0.2　0.6 MPa. Ambient pressures
and supply air temperatures are recorded for all tests.
The load capacity, which is integrated with radial
pressure distribution from an origin point located at the pad
to the outlet edge, is investigated for effects of pocket depth
and effects of pocket diameter of all cases. Since the
manufacture of the inlet orifice and feeding pocket in case
4 is too poor to be actualized, there are four cases of
effective test practically.
Figs. 8　9 show examples of the load capacity
distribution with different pocket depth and diameter of
each case respectively. All the geometer parameters and the
supply air parameters are shown in Tables 2　3. As the
diameter of the measurement hole in the stationary bearing
member is 0.2 mm, the measured load capacity profile does
not follow the feeding pocket’s geometric profile exactly.
For case 1, behavior of load capacity can be described by
the results shown in Fig. 8(a) and Fig. 9(a). Fig. 8(a) shows
the load capacity obtained with the pocket diameter
d0 　　0.15 mm, for pocket depth δ 　　7　40 μm. There
is an obvious rise occurs with the increase of pocket depth
in small vale range from δ 　　7　30 μm. A maximum
load capacity Fmax 　　259.06 N occurs at δ 　　30 μm.
The radial pressure distribution at this time is shown in Fig. Fig. 8. Plot of load capacity with pocket depth
10. As the increase of pocket depth δ ≥　30 μm, the load
capacity almost keeps constant within decrement For case 2, behavior of load capacity can be described by
ΔF　Fmax　　　1.92%. Fig. 9(a) shows the load capacity the results shown in Fig. 8(b) and Fig. 9(b). Fig. 8(b) shows
 LONG Wei, et al: Entrance Effect on Load Capacity of Orifice Compensated Aerostatic Bearing
YBIAN Keke, et al: Global Continuity Adjustment and Local
·456· Shape Optimization
with Feeding Pocket Technique for Complex Trimmed Surface ModelY

the load capacity obtained with the pocket diameter

d0 　　0.15 mm for pocket depth δ 　　1　7 μm. In this
state, load capacity rises rapidly with increase of pocket
depth δ, and it reaches maximum value Fmax 　　216.86 N
at δ　　 7 μm. The radial pressure distribution at maximum
load capacity of the above is shown in Fig. 12. By the way,
the small pocket diameter has much more linear data. Fig.
9(b) shows the load capacity obtained with the pocket
depth δ 　　5 μm for pocket diameter d0 　　1　9 mm.
As will be noted, load capacity rises gradually with the
increase of pocket diameter d0. A maximum load capacity
Fmax 　　215.99 N occurs immediately at d0 　　6.65 mm.
The radial pressure distribution at this time is shown in Fig.
13.

Fig. 9. Plot of load capacity with pocket diameter

Fig. 10. Radial pressure distribution

 CHINESE JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING ·457·

when d0 　　0.15 mm, δ 　　30 μm value Fmax 　　222.77 N at d0 　 6 mm. The radial pressure
distribution of maximum load capacity is shown in Fig. 15.

Fig. 11. Radial pressure distribution

when d0 　　0.126 mm, δ 　　10 μm Fig. 14. Radial pressure distribution
when d0　0.5 mm, δ　70 μm

Fig. 12. Radial pressure distribution

when d0 　　0.15 mm, δ 　　7 μm Fig. 15. Radial pressure distribution
when d0　5 mm, δ　10 μm

For case 5, the behavior of load capacity can be described

by the results shown in Fig. 8(d) and Fig. 9(d). Fig. 8(d)
shows the load capacity obtained with the pocket diameter
d0 　　0.2 mm for pocket depth δ 　　20　100 μm. As
will be noted, an obvious rise occurs with the increase of
pocket depth in small range of δ 　　20　40 μm. As the
increasing of pocket depth δ 　　40　100 μm, the load
capacity almost keeps constant within decrement ΔF　Fmax
　　0.2%. A maximum load capacity Fmax 　　268.80 N
Fig. 13. Radial pressure distribution occurs at δ 　 70 μm. The radial pressure distribution at this
when d0 　　0.15 mm, δ 　　5 μm
time is shown in Fig. 16. When pocket depth δ 　　0.1 μm
until to δ 　　9 μm, the load capacity rapidly drops. Here,
For case 3, the behavior of load capacity can be
the feeding pocket may degenerate to an inlet orifice with
described by the results shown in Fig. 8(c) and Fig. 9(c).
diameter of d0. Fig. 9(d) shows the load capacity obtained
Fig. 8(c) shows the load capacity obtained with pocket
with the pocket depth δ 　　10 μm for pocket diameter d0
diameter d0 　　0.5 mm for pocket depth δ 　　8　70 μm.
　 0.152　0.164 mm. In this instance, load capacity rises
For both big and small pocket diameters, load capacity rises
slowly with the increase of pocket diameter d0 in range of d0
rapidly to the maximum values with the increase of pocket
　 0.152　0.155 mm, then it rises rapidly during d0
depth δ in a small range, and then they almost keep
　　　0.155　0.158 mm. When d0 　　0.158 mm, the
constant within decrement ΔF　Fmax 　　0.4%. In Fig.
load capacity slows down increasing until to the maximum
8(c), the stable value of load capacity Fmax 　　267.30 N.
value Fmax 　　234.28 N at d0 　　
The radial pressure distribution of maximum load capacity
0.164 mm. The radial pressure distribution at this time is
is shown in Fig. 14. However, bigger pocket diameter
shown in Fig. 17. For the bigger pocket diameter when
doesn’t bring pressure depression near the inlet orifice. Fig.
pocket depth δ ≤　1 μm, there will not appear pressure
9(c) shows the load capacity obtained with pocket depth δ
depression in transitional section.
　　10 μm for pocket diameter d0 　　1　6 mm. For small
pocket depth δ 　　10 μm, load capacity rises in line with
the increase of pocket diameter d0, and reaches maximum
 LONG Wei, et al: Entrance Effect on Load Capacity of Orifice Compensated Aerostatic Bearing
YBIAN Keke, et al: Global Continuity Adjustment and Local
·458· Shape Optimization
with Feeding Pocket Technique for Complex Trimmed Surface ModelY

calculated by the 3D simulation models differ from the

experimental determined values for all film gap widths
within a small error range.

Fig. 16. Radial pressure distribution

when d0　0.2 mm, δ　70 μm

Fig. 17. Radial pressure distribution

when d0　0.164 mm, δ　10 μm

Fig. 18 shows the maximum load capacity trend with

supply pressure ps 　　0.2　0.6 MPa for each case when
they are in the same air gap (h 　　20 μm). It is shown that
the load capacity of aerostatic bearing can be improved
obviously in case 3 among all these structures. Moreover,
case 3 with appropriate δ offers the best stability without
any pressure depression in the transitional section even in
high supply pressure. Especially when d0 　　0.5 mm, δ
　　40 μm and d0 　　5 mm, δ 　　100 μm in case 3, the
experimental data give good results of load capacity.

Fig. 19. Load capacity, mass flow rate and stiffness

with different film thickness for case 3
when d0 　　0.5 mm and d0 　　5 mm

The experimental results of load capacity follow the

Fig. 18. Maximum load capacity trend
In Fig. 19, the load capacity, mass flow rate and static
stiffness are plotted as function of the film thickness. From
these figures, we can see that for small film thickness
(h　15 μm), larger feeding pocket size (both depth and
diameter) can bring larger load capacity and stiffness with
almost constant mass flow rate, while for big film thickness
(h　15 μm), the feeding pocket size (both depth and
diameter) almost has none effect on the air bearing’s static
characteristics. However, load capacity and mass flow rate
trend obtained analytically. At larger air gaps, the deviation
is quite small. But as the air gap decreases, the deviation
will increase greatly. However, analytical results are in
good agreement with the experimental results and can be
utilized to further enhance understanding of entrance
effects of aerostatic thrust bearing. The discrepancy in the
result may be due to variation in the transitional section.
Since the laminar flow shifts to turbulent flow without any
exact information, neither the viscosity model can be
chosen properly nor the pressure can be estimated by using
some indirect method. Pressure distribution under the
bearing surface can be helpful in understanding this
problem, but this is not an easy task. The surface
requirement for air bearing itself is very stringent. Under
 CHINESE JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
such circumstances, any deliberate insertion of irregularity
on the surface can change the behavior.
5 Conclusions
(1) This paper aims to achieve relationship between
entrance effects of aerostatic bearing and feeding pocket’s
structure. Different composing of orifice and corresponding
pocket brings different type of restrictor near the orifice. In
this paper, the emphasis is on building a basic groundwork
for orifice-type bearing with feed pocket, so that we can
expedite the process of achieving a good and optimum
design of aerostatic thrust bearing with low cost.
(2) The theoretical analysis gives an idea how the
entrance restrictors can perform under given conditions and
parameters. CFD simulation validates this supposition and
it is helpful in further broadening this idea. The test
facilities take this idea into practice and help us in
understanding the performance behavior of different types
of bearings working in different cases.
(3) Feeding pocket can improve load capacity of orifice
compensated aerostatic bearing with the same geometric
dimensioning. However, additional chamber space may
introduce gas capacitor into air bearing system. The impact
on the stability of aerostatic bearing creates pressure wave
with huge energy. When the energy oversteps the mark, the
noise and even friction contact may appear. So, reasonable
structural parameters and suitable pressure parameters
should be prepared with specific analysis and design.
References
[1] HIRN G. Study on principle of frictional medium in lubrication[J].
Soc. Ind. Mulhouse Bull., 1854, 26: 188–277. (in French)
[2] POWELL J W. Design of aerostatic bearings[M]. London, UK: The
Machinery Publishing Co. Ltd, 1970.
[3] STIFFLER A K. Analysis of the stiffness and damping of an
inherently compensated multiple-inlet circular thrust bearing[J]. J.
·459·
Lubr. Technol., 1974, 96(3): 329–336.
[4] KAZIMIERSKI Z, TROJNARSKI J. Investigations of externally
pressurized gas bearing with different feeding systems[J]. J. Lubr.
Technol., 1980, 102(1): 59–64.
[5] BOFFEY D. Theoretical and experimental study into the
steady-state performance characteristics of industrial air lubricated
thrust bearings[J]. Tribol. Int., 1985, 18(4): 229–233.
[6] MOHAMED F, YONG T, MARC B. Prediction of the stability of
air thrust bearings by numerical, analytical and experimental
methods[J]. Wear, 1996, 198(1–2): 1–6.
[7] FOURKA M, BONIS M. Comparison between externally
pressurized gas thrust bearings with different orifice and porous
feeding systems[J]. Wear, 1997, 210(1–2): 311–317.
[8] RENN J, HSIAO C. Experimental and CFD study on the mass flow
rate characteristic of gas through orifice-type restrictor in aerostatic
bearing[J]. Tribol. Int., 2004, 37(4): 309–315,
[9] KHATAIT J P, LIN W, LIN W J. Design and development of
orifice-type aerostatic thrust bearing[J]. SIMTech Technical Reports,
2005, 6(1): 7–12,
[10] BELFORTE G. An experimental study of high-speed rotor
supported by air bearings: test RIG and first experimental results[J].
Tribol. Int., 2006, 39(8): 839–845.
[11] CARFAGNO S P. An analysis of experimental data on entrance
effect in circular thrust bearing[R]. Franklin Institute Research
Laboratories Interim Report, 1966: 2–5,
[12] VERSTEEG H K, Malalasekera W. A introduction to computational
fluid dynamics[M]. London, UK: Longman Scientific & Technical,
1995.
Biographical notes
LONG Wei, born in 1981, is currently a PhD candidate in School
of Mechatronics Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology,
China. She received his bachelor degree from Harbin Institute of
Technology, China, in 2003. Her research interests include
aerostatic bearing and technique of air lubrication.
Tel: +86-451-86401428; E-mail: daifor@163.com
BAO Gang, born in 1960, is currently a professor in Harbin
Institute of Technology, China. He received his phD degree on
power engineering from Harbin Institute of Technology, China, in
1992.
E-mail: baog@hit.edu.cn