The two-dimensional, finite, gas lubricated, slider bearing in slip flow

Abstract

Consider the pressure field in a two dimensional, finite, gas lubricated, slider bearing under so-called `slip flow' conditions; that is, the bearing gap clearance is comparable to the mean free path distance of the lubricant gas in the bearing. In such cases, a modified Reynolds equation determines the pressure. For high speed flow and a large breadth to width ratio, the resulting boundary value problem for the pressure involves two large parameters and is a singular perturbation problem in the infinite limit of these quantities. Analysis by perturbation techniques yields an approximate expression for the pressure throughout the bearing, displaying side and trailing edge boundary layers. The results of using this expression are compared with those obtained from application of a commercial finite element computer package.