Stability of rigid rotor–aerostatic bearings with double compensations caused by orifice and inherence in series

This study elucidates the coupled effects of pressure compensation that is caused by orifice and inherence in series on static and dynamic characteristics of a rigid rotor that is supported by orifice-restricted aerostatic bearings. The load capacity and stability threshold are analyzed and compared to those obtained with separate orifice and inherence restrictions for various eccentricities, rotor speeds and restriction parameters and numbers of feeding holes. The simulation results have revealed clearly that the effects of orifice and inherence in series on bearing performance cannot be ignored in the design of aerostatic bearings.

Research Highlights
► The effects of orifice and inherence in series on the performance of a rotor-aerostatic bearing system cannot be ignored.
► For a constant rotor speed, the load capacity may be close to or less than that of bearing with inherence restriction.
► For a constant restriction parameter, the load capacity is between that of bearing with orifice restriction and that with inherence restriction.
► The stability of a rigid rotor mounted on aerostatic bearings with double compensations is always smaller than that with inherence restriction.