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In heavily loaded bearings such as thrust
bearings and horizontal journal bearings, the fluid's
viscosity alone is not sufficient to maintain a film between
the moving surfaces. In these bearings higher fluid
pressures are required to support the load until the fluid
film is established. If this pressure is supplied by an
outside source, it is called hydrostatic lubrication. If the
pressure is generated internally, that is, within the
bearing by dynamic action, it is referred to as hydrodynamic
lubrication. In hydrodynamic lubrication, a fluid wedge is
formed by the relative surface motion of the journals or the
thrust runners over their respective bearing surfaces. The
guide bearings of a vertical hydroelectric generator, if
properly aligned, have little or no loading and will tend to
operate in the center of the bearing because of the
viscosity of the oil.
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