Nanoparticles-Laden Gas Film in Aerostatic Thrust Bearing

Nanoparticles-laden gas film (NLGF) was formed by adding SiO₂ nanoparticles with volume fraction in the range of 0.014–0.330% and size of 30 nm into the air gas film in a thrust bearing. An effective viscosity of the gas-solid two phase lubrication media was introduced. The pressure distribution in NLGF and the load capacity of the thrust bearing were calculated by using the gas-solid two phase flow model with the effective viscosity under the film thicknesses range of 15–60 μm condition. The results showed that the NLGF can increase the load capacity when the film thickness is larger than 30 μm. The mechanism of the enhancement effect of load capacity was attributed to the increase of the effective viscosity of the NLGF from the pure air film, and the novel lubrication media of the NLGF can be expected for the bearing industry application.