The accuracy of the compressible Reynolds equation for predicting the local pressure in gas-lubricated textured parallel slider bearings

• We evaluate the accuracy of the Reynolds equation for gas-lubricated textured bearings.
• The accuracy of Reynolds equation decreases with increasing texture aspect ratio.
• The accuracy of Reynolds equation is independent of the bearing spacing.
• The velocity gradient assumption breaks down with increasing texture aspect ratio.
• A cross-film pressure gradient develops with increasing texture aspect ratio.

The validity of the compressible Reynolds equation to predict the local pressure in a gas-lubricated, textured parallel slider bearing is investigated. The local bearing pressure is numerically simulated using the Reynolds equation and the Navier–Stokes equations for different texture geometries and operating conditions. The respective results are compared and the simplifying assumptions inherent in the application of the Reynolds equation are quantitatively evaluated. The deviation between the local bearing pressure obtained with the Reynolds equation and the Navier–Stokes equations increases with increasing texture aspect ratio, because a significant cross-film pressure gradient and a large velocity gradient in the sliding direction develop in the lubricant film. Inertia is found to be negligible throughout this study.