3. Aerostatic bearings

Aerostatic bearings (Figures 1 g to 1 i ) are circular bearings designed with cells fed by orifices. Like circular aerodynamic bearings, they are used to provide rotational guidance for a shaft, but have the advantage of high load-bearing capacity, dynamic stiffness and zero-speed damping thanks to the pressurized supply. The problems encountered in bearing design are the same as for thrust bearings, and are linked to the pneumatic instability presented by thrust bearings. The solutions to counteract the problem of aerostatic instability are also the same:

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