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Hydrodynamic lubrication
The textbooks all explain the action of the Michell thrust bearing as due to an offset pivot and prove
that a Michell pad with a central pivot cannot work. In practice, centrally pivotted pads are the norm. It is
known that this is because the pads become curved, and thermal distortion is generally accepted as the
mechanism. However, this is only true for large, fast-moving bearings: in small, slower bearings the
deformation is due to elastic deflection [1,2].
Relevant/recent publications
- Greenwood, J. A. 'Rectangular plane sliders' CUED/C-mech/TR52 (1993).
- Greenwood, J. A. and Wu, J. J. 'The lubrication of Michell pads' J. Phys D: Appl. Phys, 28,
pp2371-2377 (1995).
Contact Details
For further information on the work summarised above contact Dr J A Greenwood at Cambridge University
Engineering Department, Trumpington St, Cambridge, CB2 1PZ, UK. Tel: 01223 332733, Fax: 01223 332662. E-mail:
jag@eng.cam.ac.uk
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