Using the Method of Acoustoelasticity for Evaluating Elastic Mechanical Stresses in the Material of Bearing Rings

Abstract

Reference blocks for loading the bearing rings on the car wheelset axle journals have been developed and manufactured, and a hydraulic test rig for loading bearing rings that simulates their press fitting on the axle has been certified. A mathematical model of a method for evaluating mechanical stresses in a bearing ring using acoustoelastic method with chord-type sounding has been created and solved, with the variation of the angle between the wave propagation direction and the axis of the principal mechanical stresses taken into account. The acoustoelasticity coefficient of a longitudinal wave in ShKh15 steel was determined experimentally when loading the bearing ring. Interference fit measurements of bearing rings were performed with the loading reference blocks using acoustoelasticity method.