Zero-load stability of a rigid rotor supported on pressurized porous gas bearings

A theoretical and experimental investigation of stability characteristics of a rigid rotor mounted on externally expressurized gas-lubricated porous bearings in made. The hydrodynamic fluid film forces of an unloaded journal which undergoes steady whirl are obtained to find limits of the stable region. The results are compared with experimental data and with a similar solution using Galerkin's method. The effect of a feeding parameter, supply pressure, thickness of porous bushing and porosity of bushing material on stability characteristics is also investigated.