DETERMINATION OF THE FREE BOUNDARY OF THE LUBRICANT LAYER OF A FERROFLUID BEARING

The free boundary of the lubricant layer of a ferrofluid bearing under the action of a magnetic field and static load has been determined. The solution has been obtained by simultaneously integrating the Reynolds equation and the equation of free boundary using a method of expansion in a small parameter, namely, the eccentricity of a shaft. It has been shown that the magnetic field forms free boundaries of the lubricant layer and reduces the cavitation bubble, thus hindering the lubricant flowing out from the bearing.