ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Mech. Eng.
Sec. Mechatronics
Numerical Investigation of Pressure-equalizing Groove Configuration Effects on Gas Bearing Performance
Provisionally accepted
- 1Chongqing Academy of Metrology and Quality Inspection, Chongqing, China
- 2Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, China
- 3Changchun University of Science and Technology Chongqing Research Institute, Chongqing, China
- 4Chongqing Institute of Engineering, Chongqing, China
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This study investigates the influence of different pressure-equalizing groove configurations on the performance of aerostatic bearings under high-speed conditions. Three pressure-equalizing groove configurations (rectangular, fan-shaped, and drop-shaped) were designed, and their performance characteristics were comprehensively analyzed via numerical simulation. The findings demonstrate that the groove geometry significantly influences the bearing's load-carrying capacity, pressure distribution, stiffness, and stability. Specifically, at high rotational speeds, vortices within the pressure-equalizing groove critically affect the pressure distribution in the bearing's high-pressure zones, which in turn dictates the load-carrying capacity. The fan-shaped and drop-shaped configurations, owing to their divergent geometries, aid in suppressing these vortices, thereby enhancing the bearing's load-carrying capacity during high-speed operation. In tests across various operating conditions, the fan-shaped and drop-shaped structures exhibited higher load-carrying capacity and stiffness compared to the rectangular structure. Regarding stability, the rectangular and fan-shaped grooves showed superior stability due to smaller pressure fluctuations. These findings provide theoretical support for the design and optimization of aerostatic bearings, contributing to the development of high-performance bearings suitable for high-speed rotating machinery.
Keywords: gas bearing performance, gas-lubricated hydrostatic bearings, high-speed, Numerical Simulations, Pressure-equalizing groove
Received: 31 Dec 2025; Accepted: 10 Feb 2026.
Copyright: © 2026 Su, Wan, Wang, Xiu and Qin. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Qi Qin
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