The Accuracy of Short Bearing Theory in Presence of Cavitation

The accuracy of the short bearing approximation in presence of cavitation is tested for bearing aspect ratios (length/diameter) ranging from 0.1 to 1, and for eccentricity to clearance ratios from 0 to 1. Results for short bearings are obtained via the method of matched asymptotic expansion of [3]. These results are compared to those for finite bearings, which are calculated by numerical integration of the Reynolds equation utilizing boundary fitted coordinates that accommodate to the cavitation boundary. Except for very high eccentricities, the short bearing theory was shown to be accurate in predicting the load, within ten percent, for bearing aspect ratios up to 0.5. For large aspect ratios the short bearing theory overpredicts the load.