Abstract:Two dimensional gas film model of an aerostatic thrust bearing with pressure equalizing grooves was set up by using ICEM, the gas film pressure and velocity distribution under different supply pressure and gas film thickness was analyzed, and the load capacity and gas consumption under different supply pressure and gas film thickness were calculated. The results show that the phenomena of gas vortex inside the pressure equalizing grooves is more and more obvious with the increase of supply gas pressure and gas film thickness. The gas film pressure is tended to linear distribution with the decrease of supply pressure and the increase of gas film thickness. The load capacity of the bearing is increased with the increase of supply pressure, and the gas consumption is increased with the increase of supply pressure or gas film thickness. The pressure equalizing groove is a key factor influencing gas film pressure and velocity distribution, and the gas vortex is one of the main reasons influencing gas flow field inside the pressure equalizing grooves, but this kind of influence in the grooves is decreased gradually with the increase of gas film thickness.