1 Scope
This document specifies a calculation procedure for oil-lubricated hydrodynamic plain
bearings, with complete separation of the shaft and bearing sliding surfaces by a
film of lubricant, used for designing plain bearings that are reliable in operation.
It deals with circular cylindrical bearings having angular spans, Ω , of 360°, 180°, 150°, 120°, and 90°, the arc segment being loaded centrally. Their
clearance geometry is constant except for negligible deformations resulting from lubricant
film pressure and temperature.
The calculation procedure serves to provide dimensions and optimize plain bearings
in turbines, generators, electric motors, gear units, rolling mills, pumps, and other
machines. It is limited to steady-state operation, i.e. under continuously driven
operating conditions, with the magnitude and direction of loading as well as the angular
speeds of all rotating parts constant. It can also be applied if a full plain bearing
is subjected to a constant force rotating at any speed. Dynamic loadings (i.e. those
whose magnitude and direction vary with time), such as those that can result from
vibration effects and instabilities of rapid-running rotors, are not taken into account.
NOTE Equivalent calculation procedures exist that enable operating conditions to be estimated
and checked against acceptable conditions. The use of them is equally admissible.