Design Procedure for

Hydro-Static Bearings (HSB)

Co
ine
db
Externally Pressurized yF
ulle
r

• Invented by L. D. Girard (Frenchman).

• Completely removal of wear and reduction of coefficient
of friction to 1/500.
•Machines using hydrostatic support show a better
rotational accuracy within 2 micro-inch (0.051 micron)
and RMS surface roughness down to 0.25 micro-inch
(0.00635 micron)

1
 Features of Hydrostatic support
• Surfaces can be separated by full fluid film even at
zero speed.
– No problem with micro roughness and waviness.
• Zero friction at zero speed.
– Useful feature for large size telescopes and radars.
• High stiffness
– Oil film thickness varies as cube root of load. h ∝ W 1/ 3
• Why not every bearing is based on Hydrostatic
mechanism

HSB for Large Binocular

Telescope
• Supports for Azimuth and Elevation axes.
– Telescope makes a far away object look closer by collecting light
from a distant object (objective lens or primary mirror) and brings
that light (image) to a focus where a second device (eyepiece lens)
magnifies the image and brings it to our eye.
– A telescope's ability to collect light is directly related to the
diameter of the lens or mirror -- the aperture -- that is used to
gather light. Generally, the larger the aperture, the more light the
telescope collects and brings to focus, and the brighter the final
image.
– Refractors have good resolution, high enough to see details.
However, it is difficult to make large objective lenses (greater than
4 inches or 10 centimeters) for refractors. Because the aperture is
limited, a refractor is less useful for observing faint, deep-sky
objects, like galaxies and nebulae, than reflector types of
telescopes.

2
 Thrust Bearings
• Many loads carried by rotating machinery have
components that act in the direction of the
shaft’s axis of rotation. Bearings supporting
such loads are known as thrust bearings.

Elementary 1-D Analysis

• Assume a shaft of
radius Ro is located
co-axially with a
circular recess of
radius Ri.
• Assume all the oil in
recess is at the
supply pressure Ps.

3
• Consider a small element of angular extent dθ at
a radius r and radial width dr.
h 3 dp
δq = − .rdθ
• Elemental flow rate: 12η dr

• If flow is symmetrical to the origin, and radial

flow rate is constant, then flow rate:
h 3 dp
.r.2π
Q=−
12η dr
• If film thickness is constant, then on integration:
πh 3 p
= −Q (log r + C1 )
6η

• Using two boundary conditions to find

unknown values of C1 and Q
R0
log
p = ps r in the region R 0 ≥ r ≥ Ri
R0
log
Ri

• Load carrying capacity:

Ro 2π

W = ps .π R + i
2
p (rdθ )dr
Ri 0

• Substituting expression
2
of p and rearranging
Ri
1−
(
W = ps . π R 2
o ) Ro
Ro2
W = C1
1 − r12
2. log 2. log 1
Ri r1

4
 load vs ratio
22

20

18 C1 = 10

16

14
load

12

10

4
.1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9
ratio

Ro 2π

W = ps .π R + i
2
p (rdθ )dr
Ri 0

πh ps 1 3
1
Q= 0
Q = C2
6η log(1 / r1 ) log(1 / r1 )

1
flow vs ratio Q = C2
240
220
log(1 / r1 )
200
180
160
140
120
flow

100
80
60
40
C2 = 10
20
0
.1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9
ratio

• Load is not a function of film thickness (h0 ), but flow is a very

strong function of film thickness.
• Film thickness is designed based on surface finish & vibration.

5
 Power loss
• Power consumption in the hydrostatic bearing
system consists of pumping power and friction
losses. F = ηA
U
h0 Petroff equation
Pt = Ph + Pf ωr
F =η A(r )
Ph = Q.Ps h0
4 R0
π R04 R ω2
Pf = η 1− i ω2 Pf = Fωr Pf = η 2πr 3dr
2 h0 R0 h0 Ri

4
1 1 πh03 1 π R04 R
Pt = Ps +
2
η 1− i ω2
η1 6η log( R0 / Ri ) η2 2 h0 R0

Example: W = 1000 N, ω=5000 rpm, R0=100

mm, Ri=50 mm, η=0.01 Pa.s, η1=0.6, η2=0.9.
Optimize minimum film thickness for minimum
power loss
4
1 1 πh03 1 π R04 R
Pt = Ps +
2
η 1− i ω2
η1 6η log( R0 / Ri ) η2 2 h0 R0

Ri2
Pt = C1h03 + C2
1−
(
W = ps . π Ro2 ) Ro
Ro2
h0
2. log
Ri

ω = 2π * 5000 60 ω = 523.6 rad/s C1 = 4.35 *1011 N/(s.m 2 )

1000 2. log( 2)
Ps =
π * 0.12 (1 − 0.52 )
Ps = 58,824 Pa C2 = 0.448 N.m 2 / s

6
 Power loss vs film thickness
45000

40000

35000

30000
Power loss

25000

20000

15000

10000

5000

0
.0004 .0006 .0008 .001 .0012 .0014 .0016 .0018 .002
Film thickness

Example: W = 1000 N, ω=5000 rpm, R0=100 mm,

η=0.01 Pa.s, η1=0.6, η2=0.9, h0=1mm. Optimize ratio
(Ri/R0) for minimum power loss

Pt = 353.5
log(1 / r )
+ 478.7 * 1 − r 4( )
(1 − r )
2 2

Power loss vs ratio

850

800

750

700
Power loss

650

600

550

500
.1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9
ratio

7
 Power loss vs ratio
500

480

460

440
speed = 2500 rpm
420

Power loss
400

380

360

340

320

300

280
.1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9
ratio

Power loss vs ratio

475

450

425

400

375
Power loss

350
Speed = 1250 rpm
325

300

275

250

225

200
.1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9
ratio

Step hydrostatic bearing to support vertical turbo-charger in

power plant.

8
 Restrictor
• In earlier slides, it was assumed that recess pressure
was equal to supply pressure. Ri2
1−
(
W = ps . π Ro2 ) Ro2
Ro
2. log
Ri
• This means change in load requires change in
performance of pump.
• Pump performance can be regulated:
– Manually
– Automatically
• To automat the pump performance one needs
sensor, amplifier, controller, etc.
• To reduce cost, often self regulating called restrictor
is used.

Restrictor
πh03 ps 1
Q=
• Constant flow restrictor 6η log(1 / r1 )
– If flow is constant, recess pressure and film thickness
are related.
– Increase in load, is balanced by increase in recess
pressure and corresponding decrease in film
thickness.
• Constant supply pressure restrictor
– Recess pressure is kept lower than supply pressure
– Drop in pressure, from supply pressure to recess
pressure, depends is controlled by the fixed restrictor
placed between supply manifold and the bearing.
– Increase in load, reduces the flow by decreasing film
thickness, recess pressure increases and equilibrium
is restored.

9
 Constant supply pressure
restrictors
• Most commonly used restrictors
are “capillary” and “orifice”. ∆PπRc4
– Capillary is relatively long and Qc =
narrow opposed to and orifice which 8ηlc
is short in the direction of flow.
– In a capillary, flow occurs due to πd o2
QO = C D 2.∆P / ρ
shearing and is dependent on 4
viscosity of fluid, whereas flow in
orifice is due to inertia and depends
on density. A smaller flow
– Flow in capillary is directly produces a
proportional to pressure difference
and that in an orifice is dependent on smaller pressure
square root of pressure difference. drop.
– Although the pumping power losses
are higher for these types of
compensation devices, the initial
cost is much less.

Hydrostatic Bearing Film Stiffness

with Constant Feed Rate
πh03 ps 1 Ri2
Q= 1−
6η log(Ro / Ri ) (
W = ps . π Ro2 ) R
Ro2
2. log o
Ri

Ri2 Q Q
W = 3η.Ro2 1 − 2 3 * 0.01* (0.1) 2 * (1 − 0.52 ) *
R
o h03 ho3

dW 3W
Stiffness K1 = =−
dh0 h0
If W is doubled, and Q is kept constant, what will be
relative change in film thickness?

10
 Load vs film thickness
2250

2000

1750
Blue line --> 0.0001 flow
1500
Red line --> 0.001 flow
1250 Green line --> 0.01 flow
load, N

1000

750

500

250

0
.001 .002 .003 .004 .005 .006 .007 .008 .009 .01
film thickness, mm

Capillary Compensation
πh03 Pr 1
Q= Q = Bho3 Pr - - > B = 174
6η log( Ro / Ri )
(P − P )πR 4 Q = k ( P − P ) − − > assumeη = 0.01
Qc = s r c c c s r
8ηlc
rc = 0.15mm, lc = 50rc
Q = Qc
Pr k
= 3c
Ps Bho + kc ∂W
= − Aeff Ps
kc 3Bho2
∂ho Bho + kc Bho3 + k c
3

Ri2 ∂W 3W Bho3
1−
Ro2 or, =−
(
W = Pr . π Ro2 ) Ro
Aeff Pr ∂ho ho Bho3 + k c
2. log
Ri
Lower value of kc
kc
W = Aeff Ps
Bho3 + kc
A eff = 0.039 increases stiffness

11
 W vs h
1.6

1.4

1.2

1 Lower value of kc reduces load

Carrying capacity
Load, N

.8

.6

.4

.2

0
.001 .002 .003 .004 .005 .006 .007 .008 .009
film thickness, m

W vs h
1400

1200

1000

800
Load, N

600

400

200

0
.001 .002 .003 .004 .005 .006 .007 .008 .009
film thickness, m

12
 Orifice Compensation
πd o2
QO = C D 2.( Ps − Pr ) / ρ QO = k o ( Ps − Pr )
4
πh P 3
1
Q= 0 r
Q = Bho3 Pr
6η log(Ro / Ri )

Q = Qo
Pr k2
= 2 6 o
Ps B ho Pr + ko2

Ri2
1−
(
W = Pr . π R 2
o ) R
Ro2
Aeff Pr
2. log o
Ri

− ko2 + ko ko2 + 4 B 2 ho6 Ps

W = Aeff
2 B 2 ho6

Hydrostatic Lift
• Useful to avoid metal to metal
contact under heavy static load
conditions. Ex. Synchronous
condenser, rolling mills, etc.
• How to estimate load capacity ?
Elemental flow rate
h 3 dp
• Trial and error method δq = − .b
12η rdθ
• Good for first of its kind.
h = C r − e cos θ
• Numerical modeling and simulation
• Assume a shaft of radius r being floated in a bearing of radius R by
oil pumped through a slot at pressure PS

13
Hydrostatic lift………………..
h = C r − e cos θ → h = C r (1 − ε cos θ )
Elementalflow rate ε = e / Cr
Cr .(1 − ε cosθ ) dp
3 3
δq = − .b
12η rdθ
Elemental pressure rise
12rηq1 dθ
dp = −
bCr (1 − ε cosθ )3
3

Generalsolution

P=−
(
12rηq1 ε .sinθ . 4 - ε 2 − 3ε cosθ
+
2+ε 2
cos−1
)
ε − cosθ
+D
bCr3 2
(
2. 1 − ε .(1 − ε cosθ )
2 2
) 2. 1 − ε 2 2.5 1 − ε cosθ ( )
constant of integration, D, can be evaluated using P = 0 at θ = 900
ε .(4 - ε 2 ) 2+ε2
D=− + cos −1 (ε )
(
2. 1 − ε 2 )
2
(
2. 1 − ε 2 )2.5

supply pressure Ps can be determined using P = Ps at θ = 00

Ps =
12rηq1 ε . 4 - ε 2
+
( 2+ε2 )
cos −1 (ε )
3
bCr 2. 1 − ε 2 2
(2. 1 − ε 2 2.5
) ( )
Pressure versus eccentricity ratio
220
200
180
160
140
Supply pressure

120
100
80
60
40
20
0
-1 -.8 -.6 -.4 -.2 0 .2 .4 .6
eccentricity ratio

Negative value of eccentricity ratio, describe the journal

position when it is above the bearing center.

14
 Load Carrying Capacity
Pressure p acts on area rdθ .b and vertical component of force prdθ .b.cosθ
will balance the applied load W
π
2
∴ W = 2 br pcosθ .dθ
0

ε .sinθ .(4 - ε 2 − 3ε cosθ )

π
24r 2ηq1 2 2+ε2 ε − cosθ
W =− + cos−1 cosθ .dθ
Cr3 0 (
2. 1 − ε ) .(1 − ε cosθ )
2 2 2
(
2. 1 − ε )
2 2.5 1 − ε cosθ

12ηr 2 q1 2 − ε
→W =
Cr3 (1 − ε )2

Load versus eccentricity ratio

180

160

140

120

100
Load

80

60

40

20

0
-1 -.8 -.6 -.4 -.2 0 .2 .4 .6
eccentricity ratio

15