On the Dynamics of Lubricated Cylindrical Roller Bearings, Part II: Linear and Nonlinear Vibration Analysis

Abstract

This article is the second part of two companion papers. In the first article, curve-fitted relations of stiffness and damping coefficients of a single roller-to-race contact of lubricated roller bearings were developed. In the present work, these relations are applied to a rotor–bearing system. Two cases are studied to investigate the influence of lubricated cylindrical roller bearings on the vibration characteristics of the rotor system. In the first case, lubricated contacts are simulated as a linear spring–damper model. The overall stiffness and damping matrices are calculated by using the dynamic coefficients of individual load sharing rollers. These matrices are used in the finite element analysis of flexible rotor. In the second case, the nonlinear structural vibration of a lubricated cylindrical roller bearing is studied. Equations of motion of bearing elements are derived using the Lagrange equation. A nonlinear load–deflection contact model developed through the derived curve-fitted relations of dynamic coefficients is used in the equations of motion. Equations of motion are solved by a fourth-order Runge-Kutta integration method. The response of bearing elements under free vibration and due to rotating unbalance is studied for damped and undamped cases. Furthermore, results obtained using elastohydrodynamic finite and infinite contact theories are compared.