Bending stiffening feature used for compliant journal bearing

A method of operating a journal bearing, the journal bearing having a journal extending along a central axis, the journal having at least one undercut defined circumferentially about the central axis at an axial end face thereof, and having a pin receiving aperture extending through the journal along the central axis, the method comprising:

• transmitting a journal bearing load to the journal in a direction transverse to the central axis,
• responsive to said journal bearing load, deforming elastically an axial end portion of the journal, the axial end portion extending from the axial end face of the journal, and
• limiting a local deformation of the axial end portion of the journal via a stiffening member extending radially across the undercut and interconnecting opposite surfaces of the undercut.

A journal bearing for a gas turbine engine, comprising a tubular body extending axially along a central axis, the tubular body having a pin receiving aperture extending along the central axis from a first axial end face to a second opposite axial end face, holes projecting into the first axial end face toward the second axial end face and having a finite depth, the holes circumferentially disposed about the central axis, and respective webs of material defined between adjacent holes.