A method for measuring the hydrodynamic effect on the bearing land

•Dynamic pressure ratio (γ) can be used to measure the hydrodynamic effect.•Dynamic pressure ratios at three rotating speeds are small in the low ε.•Dynamic pressure ratio rises as eccentricity ratio and rotating speed increase.

The concept of dynamic pressure ratio (γ) is put forward in this paper to measure the hydrodynamic effect on bearing land. The Reynolds equation and flow continuity equation have been solved using finite difference method, overrelaxation method and underrelaxation method. Taking the four-pocket capillary compensated hydrostatic journal bearing as an example, variations of dynamic pressure ratio(γ) with eccentricity ratio (ε)and rotating speed(N) are studied. The simulation results indicate that, as eccentricity ratio and rotating speed increase, dynamic pressure ratio will increase. With eccentricity ratio lower than 0.5, dynamic pressure ratio is smaller than 5% at three rotating speeds. However, when eccentricity ratio is higher than 0.5, dynamic pressure ratio will rise fast with increasing eccentricity ratio .