Abstract: One of the important ways to study the high-temperature superconducting (HTS) bearings is through numerical simulation. In this paper, a finite element mathematical model based on H method (magnetic field intensity) is established. The levitation force for a radial-type HTS bearing is calculated in a 2D axisymmetric space. The correctness of the model is verified by a comparison with the experimental data. Based on the model, the magnetic field characteristics of the HTS bearing and the distribution of induced current density in the superconducting stator are analyzed during the permanent magnet rotor movement along the axis, corresponding conclusions are obtained. The mathematical model proposed in this paper can not only be used to analyze the radial-type HTS bearings with multi-layer superconducting magnet stator, but also be applied to both the inner rotor and the outer rotor radial-type HTS bearings.