The Validity of the Compressible Reynolds Equation for Gas Lubricated Textured Parallel Slider Bearings

The Navier-Stokes and compressible Reynolds equations are solved for gas lubricated textured parallel slider bearings under hydrodynamic lubrication for a range of realistic texture geometry parameters and operating conditions. The simplifying assumptions inherent in the Reynolds equation are validated by comparing simulation results to the solution of the Navier-Stokes equations. Using the Reynolds equation to describe shear driven gas flow in textured parallel slider bearings is justified for the range of parameters considered.