A new type of hydrostatic thrust bearing of all-metallic construction is described, in which inherent compensation is provided by the inclusion of a flexible plate. The behavior of a particular form of this bearing was studied theoretically, examined experimentally and found to offer certain advantages over conventionally compensated rigid bearings.Presented as an American Society of Lubrication Engineers paper at the ASLE/ASME Lubrication Conference held in Atlanta, Georgia, October 16–10, 1973