Foil Bearing

A type of bearing in which the shaft is supported by a compliant, spring-loaded foil journal lining. Once the shaft is spinning quickly enough, the working fluid, normally air, pushes the foil away from the shaft so there is no more contact. The shaft and foil are separated by the air’s high pressure generated by the rotation, which pulls gas into the bearing via viscosity effects.

Also known as Foil-Air Bearing.