Principles of hydrostatic lubrication
Hydrostatic thrust bearings

In any hydrostatic device, one of the two facing surfaces is smooth, while the other has one or more cavities (or cells) connected to a pressure generator (figure 1a). Two regions can be distinguished:

• a zone represented by spans AB and CD of width a, where the thickness h of the lubricant film is thin $\left(h\mathrm{/}a\ll 1\right)$; the evolution of pressure in this region is described by the Reynolds equation (see article Hydrodynamic thrust bearings and bearings); it is assumed that pressure does not vary with film thickness;

• a zone BC consisting of the cavity where the lubricant film thickness...