This document specifies a calculation method for oil-lubricated hydrodynamic plain bearings with complete separation of the thrust collar and tilting pad thrust bearing surfaces by a film of lubricant.

This document applies to plain thrust bearings with tilting-type sliding blocks (tilting pads), where a wedge-shaped lubrication clearance gap is automatically formed during operation. The ratio of width to length of one pad can be varied in the range B/L = 0,5 to 2.

This document is not applicable to heavily loaded tilting pad thrust bearings.

NOTE       Equivalent calculation procedures exist that enable operating conditions to be estimated and checked against acceptable conditions. The use of them is equally admissible.