Abstract
This paper describes a new pivoting technique to improve bearing performance in pivoted pad thrust bearings. This new technique adjusts the pivot line in a line pivoted pad thrust bearing to be parallel to the trailing edge of a sector shaped pad. Bearing performance factors such as load carrying capacity, frictional torque and flow rate are numerically investigated for conventional point-pivoted and line-pivoted pads and for the new parallel-line pivoting technique. It is shown that the load carving capacity can be maximized with the new technique.