Turbo-drill thrust ball bearing raceway fatigue analysis based on the Dang Van criterion

Abstract

ABSTRACT Turbo-drill is subjected to harsh working condition where drilling fluid, impact loads and high speed can cause thrust ball bearing raceway surface to quickly fatigue failure. Based on the Dang Van multi-axis fatigue evaluation criteria, the finite element model for raceway surface fatigue analysis was established, the fatigue usage factor under periodic loading was obtained. The results demonstrated that when the hardened layer thickness was larger than 0.4 mm, the fatigue usage factor had a dramatic reduction, thicker hardened layer thickness can significantly reduce the risk of raceway surface fatigue failure. Under the normal working condition of turbo-drill, the larger axial load can lead to a significant increase in fatigue usage factor, the axial load and hardened layer thickness have no influence on the maximum equivalent plastic strain, but they can remarkably change the maximum Mises stress. Therefore, the reasonable axial load and hardened thickness can improve the fatigue life of thrust ball bearing.