Analytical studies of radial loads on rolling elements of ball and roller bearings

Rolling bearings have found wide application in mechanical engineering due to their design simplicity and high efficiency during the operation of machinery and equipment [1, 2]. At present the rolling element theory allows to fulfill complex static and dynamic calculations. The problems for the rolling bearing durability calculation, reduction of vibration and noise during the operation of machines and units are of particular relevance. The rolling bearing design simplicity is caused by a small number of component parts. However, dynamic and static processes appearing during the bearing operation possess a complex physical basis and are in need of further study and development. At present the dependence of the radial forces distribution on rolling elements along the bearing rotation angle exists only for the odd diagram of the working rolling element location using the Striebeck method. In the study a new additional design diagram is applied for the even symmetrical location of the bearing working rolling elements in the operating area, which allow to significantly improve the accuracy of performed calculations. The total number of rolling elements in a bearing can be an even or odd number, at the same time the number of working rolling elements taking up a workload in the Striebeck problem is always represented by an odd number. For this reason the known design diagram is of an insufficient accuracy, especially for a small number of rolling elements z. A new procedure of the problem solution relative to the determination of radial loads on rolling elements, where restrictions on the number of rolling elements are eliminated being accepted at present during the bearing calculation.