On the circumferential distribution of ceramic bearing sound radiation

Abstract

This paper investigates the sound radiation of ceramic bearings based on the sub-source decomposition method. The circumferential distribution of the sound field that influences the acoustic performance and service life is selected as the indicator, and the calculation precision is verified by an experiment. Afterward, the rotation speed of the bearing is fixed, and the circumferential distributions of sound pressure levels are evaluated to show the variation in radial and axial directions. Results show that the sound radiation varies greatly in the circumference, and sound pressure levels in the lower semicircles are evidently greater than those in the upper semicircles. The trends of circumferential distribution and overall sound pressure levels are different in radial direction, but similar in axial direction. The peak angle is slightly skewed to the rotation direction in the lower semicircle, and also changes with radial and axial distances. The frequency results indicate the main frequency components in the sound radiation, and the variations are discussed from the point of source radiation. This work provides insights into predicting the acoustic performance of ceramic bearings, and can guide further research and development.