Reynolds Equation for Spherical Bearings

Osborne Reynolds’ classical paper on the theory of lubrication Reynolds (1886) produced the generalized Reynolds equation. For spherical bearing applications, the generalized Reynolds equation is transformed in order to obtain useful results when the hemispherical shell is not in a horizontal position. A new film thickness expression is also presented. These transformations permit the determination of pressure distributions and fluid film thickness for any orientation of the hemispherical shell including the horizontal position, for which the conventional description of Reynolds equation is well suited. The resulting equation in two-dimensional form, for an incompressible, variable viscosity fluid, with upper and lower sliding surfaces, in spherical coordinates, contains the inclination angle β, which accounts for non-horizontal positions of the shell.