Effect of the Interfacial Slippage on the Moving Surface in a Hydrodynamic Step Bearing

The effect of the interfacial slippage on the moving surface in a hydrodynamic step bearing is analytically investigated based on the interfacial limiting shear strength model. The calculation results show that when the interfacial slippage occurs on the whole moving surface but is absent on the whole stationary surface, the load-carrying capacity of the bearing is independent on the sliding speed but is intimately dependent on the contact-fluid interfacial shear strength on the moving surface, and the carried load of the bearing is normally heavily reduced as compared to that calculated from conventional hydrodynamic lubrication theory especially for high sliding speeds; The friction coefficient of this mode of bearing is significantly higher than that of the conventional hydrodynamic step bearing for a high sliding speed, but the case is opposite for a low sliding speed. The results show the potential application value of this mode of bearing for reducing the friction at a low sliding speed or the necessity of preventing the occurrence of the interfacial slippage on the moving surface in a hydrodynamic step bearing at a high sliding speed.