Tribology International 32 (1999) 207216 www.elsevier.

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Static and dynamic characteristics of externally pressurized circular step thrust bearings lubricated with couple stress uids
Jaw-Ren Lin
*

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nanya Junior College, P.O. Box 267, Chung-Li 320, Taiwan, ROC Received 1 December 1998; received in revised form 15 March 1999; accepted 11 May 1999

Abstract The combined effects of couple stresses, uid inertia and recess volume uid compressibility on the steady-state performance and the dynamic stiffness and damping characteristics of hydrostatic circular step thrust bearings are presented theoretically. Based on the micro-continuum theory, the modied Reynolds equation and the recess ow continuity equation are derived by using the Stokes constitutive equations to account for the couple stress effect resulting from a lubricant blended with various additives. Using a perturbation technique, results in terms of steady-state load-carrying capacity, oil ow rate, stiffness and damping coefcients are presented. A design example is also illustrated for engineering and industrial applications. 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Externally pressurized bearings; Circular step thrust bearings; Static and dynamic characteristics; Couple stress uids

1. Introduction Owing to their potential advantages including zero starting friction, low viscous running friction, high loadcarrying capacity, high stiffness and high positional accuracy, externally pressurized (or so-called hydrostatic) lubricated bearings are widely used in many applications such as machine tools, gyroscope gimbals, radio telescopes, radar antennas, dynamometers, turbinegenerator units and magnetic element supports. In the early days, Fuller [1] investigated the fundamental performance of externally pressurized circular step bearings. Later, Dowson [2] predicted the inertia effects on these kinds of bearing. Inertial effects are found to be detrimental to the load-carrying capacity of the bearings. Brown [3] investigated the dynamic behavior of hydrostatic thrust bearings. According to his results, hydrostatic bearings give better dynamic characteristics than conventional bearings, and appear to be eminently suited to machine tool applications. Licht and Cooley [4] also examined the dynamic stiffness and damping characteristics of externally pressurized thrust bearings. It was found that the damping effect of the squeeze lm is of
* Fax: +886-3-4666902.

importance in assessing the response of the viscous uid. On the other hand, the effect of uid compressibility in the recess was investigated by Rohde and Ezzat [5] for a hybrid journal bearing, and by Ghosh and Majumdar [6] for a hydrostatic thrust bearing. From these works the recess volume compressibility has a visible effect on the dynamic characteristics of externally pressurized bearings. All of the above studies of externally pressurized thrust bearings consider a Newtonian viscous uid. Recently, experimental research has shown clear evidence that the use of small amounts of long-chained additives in a Newtonian viscous lubricant can improve the lubricating properties. In an experimental study on the performance of short journal bearings by Oliver [7], the polymer-dissolved oil provides load-enhanced and friction-reduced effects on the bearing performance. From the experimental contribution by Spikes [8], a Newtonian lubricant with suitable additives can stabilize the behavior of the lubricant between rubbing surfaces and reduce friction. According to experimental work aimed at the characteristics of a wet friction clutch by Scott and Suntiwattana [9], wear of the friction material was reduced when the additives were incorporated into the base oil. Since the classical theory cannot accurately describe the ow behavior of a Newtonian lubricant

0301-679X/99/$ - see front matter 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. PII: S 0 3 0 1 - 6 7 9 X ( 9 9 ) 0 0 0 3 4 - 1

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Nomenclature a A Be, B* e dc fc h, h* h0 i Ke, K * e l l* lc p, p* p 0, p * 0 p r, p * r ps pr0, p* r0 pr1, p* r1 p 1, p * 1 Qr0, Q* r0 r, q, z r* rc ri , ro s t tr u, v, w Vr, V * r W, W * W d, W * d amplitude of oscillation recess area 3 2 damping coefcient, B* e =h0Be/12pmri capillary diameter dimensionless quantity, dened in Eq. (25) lm thickness, h*=h/h0 steady-state lm thickness 1 2 stiffness coefcient, K * e =h0Ke/pri ps characteristic length of additives, (h/m)1/2 couple stress parameter, l/h0 length of capillary lm pressure, p*=p/p0 steady-state lm pressure, p* 0=p0/ps recess pressure, p* = p / p r r s supply pressure steady-state recess pressure, p* r0=pr0/ps dynamic recess pressure, p* = p r1 r1/ps dynamic lm pressure, p* = p / p 1 1 s 3 steady-state lubricant ow rate, Q* r0=12mQr0/prh0 cylindrical coordinates dimensionless radius, r/ri capillary radius inner radius, outer radius of the step pad rotation number, 0.6r2r2 i /ps time recess thickness velocity components 2 recess volume, V * r =Vr/pri h0 steady-state load-carrying capacity, W *=W/pr2 i ps 2 dynamic load-carrying capacity, W * = W / p r p d d i s

Greek symbols a b g dc z h m r s t w radius ratio, r0/ri uid compressibility recess volume parameter, psbV* r 3 capillary restrictor parameter, 3pd 4 c /32h0lc * Qr0+(1fc)dc material constant responsible for couple stress property dynamic viscosity oil density 2 squeeze number, 12mwr2 i /psh0 dimensionless time, wt frequency of oscillation rotational speed of runner

blended with additives, many micro-continuum theories have been generated [1012]. Amongst them, the Stokes theory [12] is the simplest theory of uids which allows for polar effects such as the presence of couple stresses, body couples and non-symmetric tensors. In the biome-

chanical area, this couple stress uid model has been applied to study the mechanism of peristalsis [13,14]. In the eld of lubrication, investigations into the rheological effects of couple stress uids have been made on pure squeeze lm bearings [1517], on hydrodynamic

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slider bearings [18], on hydrodynamic journal bearings [19], and on rolling-element bearings [20,21]. Many studies of hydrostatic bearing characteristics with different non-Newtonian lubricants have also been carried out. These articles include the plate bearings using a Reiner Rivlin uid [22], the circular disks using a micropolar uid [23], the circular step bearings using a couple stress uid [24], the circular plate bearing using a power-law uid [25], and the conical step bearings using a viscoelastic uid [26], However, research into the combined effects of couple stresses, uid inertia and recess volume uid compressibility on the static and dynamic characteristics of hydrostatic circular step thrust bearings has not been made so far. In this paper, the combined effects of couple stresses, uid inertia and recess volume uid compressibility on the steady-state and the dynamic characteristics of hydrostatic circular step thrust bearings are investigated theoretically. On the basis of the micro-continuum theory, the modied Reynolds equation and the recess ow continuity equation are derived by using the Stokes constitutive equations to account for the effect of couple stresses resulting from a lubricant blended with various additives. The bearing runner is assumed to operate under small-amplitude harmonic oscillations about its steady-state position. Using a rst-order perturbation method, dynamic recess pressure is determined by perturbing the recess ow continuity equation. Dynamic stiffness and damping characteristics of the bearing are then evaluated. Results in terms of steady-state load-carrying capacity, oil ow rate, stiffness and damping coefcients are presented for a capillary-compensated bearing. For engineering practice, an illustration of a design example is also included.

Fig. 1.

Bearing geometry.

and p 0 . z The continuity equation is given by: 1 (ru) w 0. r r z (4) (3)

2. Analysis Consider the mechanism of a hydrostatic circular step thrust bearing as shown in Fig. 1, where lubricant from an externally pressurized source is fed to the circular step bearing pad through a capillary restrictor. The shaft is rotating about the z axis with speed . The lubricant in the system is taken to be a Stokes couple stress uid accounting for the base oil blended with additives. It will be assumed that the uid lm is thin, and the body forces and body couples are absent. From Stokes micro-continuum theory [12], the momentum equations governing the motion of the lubricant given in polar coordinates can be expressed as: rv 2 p 2u 4u m 2 h 4 , r r z z 0m 2v 4v h z2 z4 (1) (2)

Integrating Eq. (2) with the boundary conditions at the surfaces of the pad and runner gives: v(r, 0)0, 2n(r, 0)/z20, v(r, h) r and z v(r, z)r . h 2v(r, h)/z20.

The tangential velocity is found to be: (5)

Substituting Eq. (5) into Eq. (1) and integrating with the boundary conditions u(r, 0)0, 2u(r, 0)/z20, 0 and 2u(r, h)/z20, u(r, h)

the radial velocity is obtained as: u(r, z)

1 dp cosh[(2zh)/2l] z(zh)2l2 1 2m dr cosh(h/2l)

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sinh(z/l) r 2 r z4h312l2 z2h2 12mh2 sinh(h/l) cosh[(2zh)/2l] 24l 1 , cosh(h/2l)

4

(6) (7)

and G*0.6h*38l*2h*24l*3 tanh 96 h* l*5 tanh * . *2 h 2l

where l h m

h* l*4 48 2l* h* (14)

1/2

With the runner undergoing small-amplitude oscillations about its steady-state position, the dimensionless lm pressure and thickness are perturbed as follows:
* it p*p* 0p1a e

Now, substituting Eq. (6) into the continuity equation (4) and integrating with respect to z with the boundary conditions of w(r, z) yields: w(r, 0)0 and w(r, h)h/t.

(15)

and h*1a eit. (16)

Then the modied Reynolds equation governing the lm pressure is derived as: 1 dp h F(h, l) r r2G(h, l)12m , r r dr t where

(8)

Substituting the above expressions into Eq. (13) and neglecting higher-order terms, one obtains the dimensionless modied Reynolds equations responsible for the steady-state performance and the dynamic stiffness and damping characteristics: 1 *p* f0(l*) 0 r * s * * * r r r g0(l )

h F(h, l)h312l2h24l3 tanh 2l and G(h, l)0.6h38l2h24l3 tanh l5 h 96 2 tanh . h 2l

h l 48 2l h
4

(9) and

(17)

1 *p* s f2(l*) 1 r * i * s 2 * , * * r r r g0(l ) g0(l ) where (10) f2(l*)f1(l*)g0(l*)f0(l*)g1(l*),

(18)

(19) (20)

It is noted that, as the value of l approaches zero, the functions F(h, l) and G(h, l) yield h3 and 0.6h3, respectively. As a result, the modied Reynolds equation reduces to the classical Newtonian-lubricant case. Now, we introduce the following dimensionless variables and parameters: r r* , ri p p * , ps
2 2 i

40 1 f0(l*)1 l*240l*3 tanh * 80l*4 3 2l 160l*5 tanh

g0(l*)112l*224l*3 tanh

h h* , h0 s

l l* , twt, h0
2 i

0.6r r s , ps

12mwr . psh2 0

20 1 f1(l*)3 l*2 13 tanh2 * 3 2l (11) 80l*4 2tanh2 and g1(l*)112l*2 tanh2

The dimensionless modied Reynolds equation is thus expressed as: 1 h* dp* F *(h*, l*) * * r* * sG*(h*, l*)s , r r dr t where F *h*312l*2h*24l*3 tanh

1 . 2l*

1 , 2l* 1 , 2l* (21)

1 1 320l*5 tanh * * 2l 2l

(22)

(12)

(23)

h 2l*
*

(13)

It is also noted that, as the value of l* approaches zero, Eqs. (17) and (18) reduce to the classical Newtonianlubricant case.

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3. Recess boundary pressures The recess ow continuity equation for a capillarycompensated bearing with couple stress uids taking into account the effect of uid compressibility in the recess is expressed as: pd 4 h pr c (p p )(1fc)Qrpr2 bVr , i 128mlc s r t t where fc is a dimensionless quantity determined by l l I1(rc/l) I0(rc/l) fc4 . rc rc I0(rc/l) I0(rc/l)(l/rc)I1(rc/l) (24)

z Q * r0(1fc)dc.

(34)

4. Steady-state characteristics The steady-state lm pressure can be found from the modied Reynolds equation (17) with the boundary conditions:
* p* 0pr0

at r*1

(35)

(25)

and p* at r*a. 0 0 The lm pressure is then obtained: ln r* sf0 *2 sf0 2 * * p* (r 1) p* (a 1) . 0(r )Pr0 r0 4g0 4g0 ln a (36)

In this equation, I0 and I1 are the Bessel functions. It is noted that, as the value of l/rc approaches zero, the recess ow continuity equation reduces to the Newtonian-lubricant case. Writing in a dimensionless form yields:
* * dc(1p* r )(1fc)Qr pr ps

h* p* r psg , t t

(37)

(26)

The steady-state load-carrying capacity is calculated by integrating the lm pressure: Wp0pr2 i 2p p0r dr.
ri

where the capillary restrictor parameter, the dimensionless recess pressure, the dimensionless ow rate and the recess volume parameter are dened respectively by the following: 3pd 4 12mQr c dc , Q* , r 3 32h0lc prh3 0 pr p* r , ps g psbV* r. (27)

ro

(38)

Expressing in a dimensionless form and integrating gives: W*0.5(a21)

For small-amplitude motions, the recess pressure is described by

* * it p* r pr0pr1a e .

p* a21 f0 r0 . 0.25s a21 ln a g0 ln a

(39)

(28)

Substituting into the recess ow continuity equation and neglecting higher-order terms results in two equations:
* * dc(1p* r0)(1fc)Qr0pr0

The steady-state lubricant ow rate from the recess boundary is evaluated by integrating the radial velocity:
zh0 2p

(29)

Qr0

and
* * * * * dc(1fc)p* r1Qr1pr0Qr0pr1ips(1gpr1).

z0 0

ur=riri dq dz.

(40)

(30)

In these equations, Q* r0 is the steady lubricant ow and the perturbed ow is determined by: Q* r Q* r1 h*

Expressing in a dimensionless form and integrating leads to: Q* r0 p* 2p a21 sf0 r0 g 2 0 p* ln a 4g0 ln a r0

sf0 . 2

(41)

h =1

(31)

Therefore, the recess pressure for the steady state and the perturbed state can be obtained as: p* r0 and
* 2 2 Q* r1pr0z+p s g p 2 , z +(psg)2 * r1

5. Dynamic stiffness and damping characteristics The dynamic lm pressure can be obtained from the modied Reynolds equation (18) with the boundary conditions:
* p* 1pr1

(1fc)dc z

(32)

at r*1

(42)

(33)

and p* at r*a. 1 0 (43)

where

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The lm pressure is expressed as: sf2 *2 * * p* (r 1) 1(r )pr1 4g* 0

ln r* sf2 2 p* (a 1) . r1 * 4g0 ln a

(44)

The dynamic load-carrying capacity is evaluated by integrating the dynamic pressure: Wdpr1pr2 i 2p p1r dr.
ri

ro

(45)

Consequently, the dimensionless dynamic load-carrying capacity is given by:

2 W* d0.5(a 1)

p* a21 f2 r1 . 0.25s 2 a21 ln a g0 ln a

(46)

stresses on the hydrostatic bearing is characterized by this couple stress parameters [24]. With a rotational speed of the bearing runner, the effect of uid inertia is then described by the rotation number dened in Eq. (11): s=0.6rr2 i /ps. The effect of recess volume uid compressibility is thus depicted by the recess volume parameter dened in Eq. (27): g=psbV* r , where b is the uid compressibility. For engineering practice where this approach would be necessary, values of the steadystate recess pressure, the radius ratio, the squeeze number, the couple stress parameter, the rotation parameter and the recess volume parameter are chosen as the following: p* 0.7 r0: a: 1.22.8 s: 101000 l*: 00.5 s: 01 g: 0.00010.01

The restoring dynamic load-carrying capacity due to the perturbed lm pressure can be written in terms of linearized spring and damping coefcients as: Wda eiwtKah0a eiwtiBah0a eiwt. (47)

6.1. Steady-state performance Bearing characteristics for the steady state are presented in Figs. 25 including load-carrying capacity, lubricant ow rate and radial velocity prole. Fig. 2 shows the variation of dimensionless load-carrying capacity W * and dimensionless ow rate Q* r0 with radius ratio a for different values of the couple stress parameter l* with the uid inertia effect being neglected (s=0). The results denoted by the circled line represent the classical Newtonian-lubricant case. The results describing the effect of couple stresses are illustrated with values of l* =0.1 and 0.2. The dimensionless load-carrying capacity

Introducing the dimensionless stiffness and damping coefcients K* a h0KA and pr2 i ps B* a h3 0BA , 12pmr2 i (48)

the dynamic characteristics are then obtained as:

2 K* d0.5(a 1) 0.25s

f2 2 a21 p* r1 a 1 g2 ln a ln a 0 1 2 a21 a 1 . g0 ln a

(49)

and

2 B* d0.5(a 1) 0.25s

(50)

6. Results and discussion This study is mainly concerned with the combined effects of couple stresses, uid inertia and recess volume uid compressibility on the steady-state performance and the dynamic stiffness and damping characteristics of externally pressurized circular step thrust bearings. Observing Eqs. (1) and (2), the existence of the new material constant, h, arises from the lubricant blended with additives. This constant could be determined by some experiments as discussed by Stokes [12]. Since the length of l dened in Eq. (7) is in units of length, it can be considered as the characteristic length of additives in a base oil. With the aid of the dimensionless parameter l* dened in Eq. (11), l*=l/h0, the effect of couple

Fig. 2. Steady load-carrying capacity versus radius ratio with s=0.

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Fig. 3. Steady load-carrying capacity and ow rate versus rotation parameter with a=2.

Fig. 5. Steady radial velocity prole at r *=1.2 with a=2 and s=0.0261.

Fig. 4. Steady load-carrying capacity and ow rate versus couple stress parameter with a=2 and s=0.0261.

W * increases with increasing value of radius ratio a, but the inuence of couple stresses on the value of W * is found to be slight. It is also shown that the dimensionless ow rate Q* r0 decreases with increasing value of radius ratio a. Furthermore, the effect of couple stresses yields a decrease in the value of Q* r0. Therefore, the ow rate required to support the load is reduced by the presence of couple stresses. It results in a reduced pumping power loss for the bearing system. The effect of uid inertia on the bearing performance is shown in Fig. 3, which

presents the variation of W * and Q* r0 with rotation parameter s for a xed bearing pad size (a=2). It is observed that the effect of uid inertia decreases the load-carrying capacity, but the couple stress effect remains small upon the value of W* even for higher values of rotation parameter. It is also found that the uid inertia effect increases the oil ow rate of the bearing. However, the presence of couple stresses provides an apparent reduction in the required ow rate. A further inspection of the effect of couple stresses on the bearing performance is presented in Fig. 4. It shows the variation of W * * and Q* r0 with couple stress parameter l for constant bearing radius ratio (a=2) as the uid inertia effect (s=0.0261) is considered. The inuence of couple stresses on the load-carrying capacity is negligible, but the steady ow rate is signicantly affected especially for higher values of couple stress parameter. This can be realized from the radial velocity proles u*(r*) as depicted in Fig. 5, where the steady velocity prole u* (r*) at a radial position r*=1.2 is described for different couple stress parameters. Since the presence of couple stresses reduces the radial velocity prole the integrated ow rate is thus decreased, especially for a high value of l*. From the above, it can be said that the effect of uid inertia results in a lower load-carrying capacity as well as a higher oil ow rate for the externally pressurized bearing. On the other hand, the effect of couple stresses upon the load-carrying capacity is negligibly small. However, the couple stress effect signies a decrease in the value of required ow rate; it provides a reduction in the pumping loss for the bearing system.

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Fig. 6. Stiffness and damping coefcients versus radius ratio with s=0.0261, s=20 and g =0.001.

Fig. 8. Stiffness and damping coefcients versus recess volume parameter with a=2, s=0.0261 and s=100.

6.2. Dynamic stiffness and damping characteristics Results of dynamic stiffness and damping behaviors for the bearing operating under small perturbation about its steady-state position are prescribed in Figs. 68. The variation of dimensionless stiffness coefcient K * a and damping coefcient B* a with radius ratio a for different couple stress parameters l* is shown in Fig. 6. With the effect of uid inertia being considered (s=0.0261), stiffness and damping coefcients are observed to increase

with increasing values of radius ratio for a specied recess volume parameter (g =0.001) and squeeze number (s=20). Compared with the Newtonian-lubricant case, it is found that the presence of couple stresses provides a signicant enhancement in the stiffness and damping properties. Fig. 7 describes the variation of stiffness * coefcient K * a and damping coefcient Ba with squeeze number s for different couple stress parameters l*. The dynamic stiffness coefcient increases with increasing value of s. However, the effect of s on the dynamic damping coefcient is found to be slight. On the other hand, the effect of couple stresses results in a higher * value of K * a and Ba. Furthermore, the inuence of couple stresses upon the stiffness behavior is more pronounced for a high value of s. The effect of recess volume uid compressibility on the dynamic characteristics is shown * in Fig. 8, which presents the variation of K * a and Ba with recess volume parameter g for different couple stress parameters l*. It is observed that the inuence of recess volume uid compressibility is to increase the value of dynamic stiffness coefcient, but its effect on the dynamic damping behavior is very small. On the other hand, the effect of couple stresses is observed to provide a signicant enhancement in both of the stiffness and damping behaviors. 6.3. The combined effects A further insight into the combined effects on the steady and dynamic behaviors is presented in Figs. 9 and 10. Fig. 9 describes the variation of W* and Q* r0 with couple stress parameter l* for different radius ratios a with the effect of uid inertia (s=0.0261) being con-

Fig. 7. Stiffness and damping coefcients versus squeeze number with a=2, s=0.0261 and g =0.001.

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ow rate yield the classical form [1]. Moreover, when the value of l* tends to zero, Eq. (49) describing the stiffness property and Eq. (50) governing the damping characteristics also reduce to the Newtonian-lubricant case [6]. 6.4. Design example A practical design example is illustrated for engineering application. Consider a hydrostatic circular step thrust bearing with the following data: r0=100 mm h0=0.0254 mm pr=3.45 MPa=0.7ps =100 rad/s ri=50 mm tr=1 mm m=0.034 N s/m2 =870 kg/m3 w=60 rad/s l=0.00254 mm b=5.81010 m2/N

Then the related quantities or parameters can be obtained:

Fig. 9. Steady load-carrying capacity and ow rate versus couple stress parameter for different radius ratios with s=0.0261.

pr0 ro p* 0.7, a 2, r0 ps ri

12mwr2 i 60.466, psh2 0

l l* 0.1 (effect of couple stresses) h0 s 0.6rr2 i 0.0261 (effect of fluid inertia) ps ps bVr 0.0113 pr2 i h0 (effect of recess volume fluid compressibility). The steady-state performance, dynamic stiffness and damping coefcients of the bearing are presented in Table 1, in which the characteristics for different radius ratio and couple stress parameters are also included. Note that some results have been described in Figs. 9 and 10. It is hoped that this design example can demonstrate how the results can be used by a design engineer.

and g

7. Conclusions
Fig. 10. Stiffness and damping coefcients versus couple stress parameter with s=0.0261, s=60.466 and g =0.0113.
* sidered. Fig. 10 depicts the variation of K * a and Ba with * couple stress parameter l for different radius ratio a with the effects of both uid inertia (s=0.0261) and recess volume uid compressibility (g =0.0113) considered. It is observed that the quantitative effect of couple stresses upon the steady ow rate, dynamic stiffness and damping responses is more pronounced for higher values of radius ratio. As the values of both l* and s approach zero, Eq. (39) depicting the steady-state loadcarrying capacity and Eq. (41) expressing the required

In this paper, the main concern focuses on the combined effects of couple stresses, uid inertia and recess volume uid compressibility on the steady-state and dynamic characteristics of a hydrostatic circular step thrust bearing. To take into account the couple stress effect resulting from a lubricant blended with various additives, the modied Reynolds equation and the recess ow continuity equation are derived by using the Stokes constitutive equations. With a small perturbation technique, results for the steady-state load-carrying capacity, oil ow rate, stiffness and damping coefcients are obtained for a capillary-compensated bearing. As the value of couple stress parameter approaches zero, the

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Table 1 Static and dynamic characteristics of the bearing with p r0=0.7, s=0.0261, s=60.466 and g =0.0113 a Q r0 1.2 1.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 W* 1.2 1.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 K a 1.2 1.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 B a 1.2 1.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 Newtonian l*=0.1 l*=0.3 l*=0.5

References
[1] Fuller DD. Theory and practice of lubrication for engineers. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1956. [2] Dowson D. Inertia effects in hydrostatic thrust bearings. ASME J Basic Eng 1961;83:22734. [3] Brown GM. The dynamic characteristics of a hydrostatic thrust bearing. Int J Mach Tool Des Res 1961;1:15771. [4] Licht L, Cooley JW. Dynamics of externally-pressurized sliders with incompressible and compressible lms. ASME J Basic Eng 1964;86:396404. [5] Rohde SM, Ezzat HA. On the dynamic behavior of hybrid journal bearings. ASME J Lubrication Technol 1976: 9094. [6] Ghosh MK, Majumdar BC. Dynamic stiffness and damping characteristics compensated hydrostatic thrust bearings. ASME J Lubrication Technol 1982;104:4916. [7] Oliver DR. Load enhancement effects due to polymer thickening in a short model journal bearing. J Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech 1988;30:18596. [8] Spikes HA. The behaviour of lubricants in contacts: current understanding and future possibilities. J Proc Instn Mech Engrs 1994;28:315. [9] Scott W, Suntiwattana P. Effect of oil additives on the performance of a wet friction clutch material. Wear 1995;181183:8505. [10] Ariman TT, Sylvester ND. Microcontinuum uid mechanics, a review. Int J Eng Sci 1973;11:90530. [11] Ariman TT, Sylvester ND. Applications of microcontinuum uid mechanics. Int J Eng Sci 1974;12:27393. [12] Stokes VK. Couple stresses in uids. Phys Fluids 1966;9:170915. [13] Srivastava LM. Peristaltic transport of a couple-stress uid. Rheologica Acta 1986;25:63841. [14] Shehawey EFEI, Mekheimer KHS. Couple-stresses in peristaltic transport of uids. J Phys D: Appl Phys 1994;27:116370. [15] Ramanaish G. Squeeze lms between nite plates lubricated by uids with couple stress. Wear 1979;54:31520. [16] Bujurke NM, Jayaraman G. The inuence of couple stresses in squeeze lms. Int J Mech Sci 1982;24:36976. [17] Lin JR. Squeeze lm characteristics of nite journal bearings: couple stress uid model. Tribol Int 1998;31(4):2017. [18] Ramanaiah G. Slider bearings lubricated by uids with couple stress. Wear 1979;52:2736. [19] Lin JR. Effects of couple stresses on the lubrication of nite journal bearings. Wear 1997;206:1718. [20] Sinha P, Singh C. Couple stresses in the lubrication of rolling contact bearings considering cavitation. Wear 1981;67:8591. [21] Bujurke NM, Naduvinami NG. The lubrication of lightly cylinders in combined rolling, sliding and normal motion with couple stress uid. Int J Mech Sci 1990;32:96976. [22] Srivastava RC. Hydrodynamic lubrication of an externally pressurised bearing using a ReinerRivlin uid as lubricant. Appl Sci Res 1965;14:1337. [23] Khader MS, Vachon RI. Theoretical effects of solid particles in hydrostatic bearing lubricant. ASME J Lubrication Technol 1973;94:1046. [24] Ramanaiah G, Sarkar P. Squeeze lms and thrust bearings lubricated by uids with couple stress. Wear 1978;48:30916. [25] Singh C, Nailwal TS, Sinha P. Elastohydrostatic lubrication of circular plate bearing with power law lubricants. ASME J Lubrication Technol 1982;104:2437. [26] Roy JS, Biswal B. Externally pressurized conical step bearing with visco-elastic lubricant. Tribol Int 1984;17(1):3942.

34.6043 13.5628 9.3182 7.4954 6.4915 0.8446 1.1605 1.5083 1.8824 2.2761 0.8000 1.3885 2.3041 3.5351 5.0609 0.0015 0.0470 0.2520 0.7871 1.8782

31.2809 12.2600 8.4227 6.7746 5.8669 0.8446 1.1605 1.5083 1.8825 2.2763 0.8555 1.5272 2.5915 4.0333 5.8267 0.0016 0.0520 0.2787 0.8707 2.0777

18.1095 7.0975 4.8758 3.9216 3.3959 0.8446 1.1605 1.5083 1.8826 2.2765 1.1368 2.5815 5.0921 8.6015 13.0163 0.0028 0.0897 0.4814 1.5040 3.5888

9.8541 3.8620 2.6531 2.1339 1.8478 0.8446 1.1605 1.5083 1.8826 2.2765 1.5749 5.4943 12.6046 22.4940 34.7496 0.0052 0.1649 0.8848 2.7640 6.5953

bearing characteristics reduce to the classical Newtonian-lubricant case. According to the results evaluated under constant steady-state recess pressure, the following conclusions can be drawn. 1. The steady-state load-carrying capacity is decreased with uid inertia, but remains the same even for higher values of the couple stress parameter. 2. The lubricant ow rate required increases when uid inertia is considered. However, the effect of couple stresses decreases the ow rate and then results in a reduced pumping power; it conrms the results by Ramanaiah and Sakar [24]. 3. The effect of recess volume uid compressibility does not alter the damping characteristics; however, it enhances the dynamic stiffness property. 4. The effect of couple stresses provides an improvement in the dynamic stiffness and damping characteristics. 5. A practical design example is illustrated. 6. The qualitative effects of uid inertia or/and recess volume uid compressibility on the bearing characteristics conrm the previous studies by Dowson [2] and Ghosh and Majumdar [6]. Acknowledgement This work was partly supported by the National Science Council of Republic of China.