Ball bearing skidding under radial and axial loads

Abstract

In the present study, high-speed ball bearings subjected to both axial and radial loads are investigated. This also includes the effect of centrifugal force. Through the geometric analysis of a ball bearing and the force balance, several parameters can be easily obtained, like: the normal forces acting on the contact points; the contact angle at either the inner or the outer raceways that vary with the bearing position angles; bearing stiffness in the axial and radial directions that vary with the cage's angular velocity, etc. Using Hirano's criterion, the conditions for the proper choice of the total deformations in two directions can be identified in order to avoid bearing skidding. The analysis indicates that a more effective way to prevent the bearings from skidding at high angular velocities is to raise the deformation applied in the axial direction. It is the angular velocity of the cage, rather than the load applied in the radial direction that is the dominant factor in the choice of the axial deformation to avoid skidding.