Compressibility effects on the dynamic characteristics of gas lubricated mechanical components

Abstract The present Note deals with the effects of compressibility on the linearized dynamic characteristics of gas lubricated mechanical components (journal and thrust bearings). Although the effect of compressibility on the static characteristics is well known, its influence on the dynamic characteristics is still not clearly understood. The present Note uses Lubrication's simplest model problems (the 1D slider) to qualitatively describe this effect. An analytic solution obtained for the parallel 1D slider depicts the variation of stiffness and damping with the excitation frequency and shows that this nonlinearity must be taken into account for squeeze number larger than 1. A convenient way of handling this nonlinearity in a dynamic system is described for an aerodynamic thrust bearing. To cite this article: M. Arghir, P. Matta, C. R. Mecanique 337 (2009).