Ball bearing vibrations model: Development and experimental validation

The experimental validation of a mathematical ball bearing model with localized outer race defects is presented in this paper. The bearing is considered as a mass - spring - damper system, considering each rolling element as a contact spring - damper pair, based on Hertz equations for contact deformation, moving along the races. In accordance with the obtained results, in this work a bearing model is validated with a purpose built test bench. To compare the vibration signals from the real system and the model, spectral and high frequency analysis is used, particularly techniques commonly used on commercially available vibration analysis equipment, such as envelope and Peak Value analysis. The studied model shows a frequency behavior similar to that of the experimental data and the envelope and Peak Value analysis clearly reveal the characteristic frequencies of the studied type of defects.