Journal-Bearing Operation at Superlaminar Speeds

Abstract Journal bearings today are generally designed to operate under such conditions that laminar flow prevails in the lubricant film. However, with the continuing trend in machine design toward higher speeds, there is the possibility that the limits of laminar flow may be exceeded in many bearings of the future. In the investigation reported in this paper, the load-carrying and frictional characteristics of a journal bearing were studied at speeds ranging up to five times the critical speed. The “critical speed” is defined as that rotational velocity which just causes breakdown of laminar flow.