Abstract
Friction between the various elements in a rolling bearing results in power loss and heat generation. Therefore, an estimation of the rolling bearing power losses is necessary to refine lubrication techniques and to optimize machine component design. A new model which predicts and locates power losses in a high-speed cylindrical roller bearing, operating under purely radial load, is presented. Its new features come from the consideration of both cage action and the effect of lubricant film thickness in the computation of bearing kinematics at equilibrium. Lubricant rheological properties are used in order to calculate hydrodynamic and elastohydrodynamic forces in each lubricated contact. This model considers cage and roller kinematics to be unknown. These are obtained by solving the equations of motion for each bearing element. The computation and the location of power losses are given by the friction forces and the sliding speeds among the various bearing elements, i.e., contact between roller and inner or outer ring, roller edge-race flange, roller-cage pocket and cage-ring pilot surface. The authors compare first the values of the calculated power loss with experimental data to assess the program's predictive capability. Afterwards the model is used to estimate and locate power losses in a well-lubricated high-speed roller bearing. Results show that the total power loss varies strongly with the rotational speed, the lubricant inlet temperature and the oil flow through the bearing. Nevertheless, it is less sensitive to radial load. Power loss results are also given as a function of the bearing internal geometry.
Published Version
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