An alternative hydrodynamic force model for finite bearings

A method for determining a closed-form expression for the hydrodynamic forces in finite plain journal bearings is introduced. The method is based on applying correction functions to the force models of the infinitely-long (IL) or infinitely-short (IS) bearing approximation. The correction functions are derived by modeling the ratio between the forces from the numerical integration of the two-dimensional Reynolds equation and the forces from either the IL or IS bearing approximation. Low-order polynomial models, dependent on the eccentricity ratio and aspect ratio, are used for the correction functions. The models are shown to outperform the standard limiting approximations in the steady-state analysis of the bearing system under static loading.