1. Principles of hydrostatic lubrication

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 1 a ). 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;...