A note on the Low Pressure Regions occurring in the Hydrodynamic Lubricating Films of Journal Bearings

A point in the operation of journal bearings under hydrodynamic or thick film conditions which has always excited controversy is the question of the negative pressures predicted in the classical theory. This note examines relevant theoretical and experimental evidence of conditions in the low pressure regions in journal bearing oil films, referring particularly to possible cavitation phenomena and making suggestions for further research.