A power-shaped multipad hydrodynamic journal bearing working in compressible fluid is described here that is suitable for high-speed turbomachines. This type of bearing is much simpler than tilting pad or foil journal bearings and will provide satisfactory results for machines intended to operate under relatively constant environmental and operating conditions. The work presented here is mostly analytical. Load capacity and the phase angle are calculated for the steady-state condition by numerically solving the nonlinear Reynolds equation. After obtaining the steady-state solution, the eight dynamic spring rate and damping coefficients are obtained by applying small displacements and velocities, respectively, around the steady-state position. The stability threshold of an unsymmetric rigid shaft is obtained by solving an eigenvalue problem numerically using the state-space formulation and finding out the damped eigenvalues numerically. A parametric study of the power-shaped multipad bearing is performed to show the sensitivity of different parameters. Results show that the load capacity of the power-shaped multipad bearing under some high-speed operating condition is over 200% more than the axial groove bearing. Similarly, the stability threshold speed is increased by at least a factor of eight. Some interesting stability results are given graphically when the shaft is unsymmetric. B c C