ROLLING-CONTACT

BEARINGS
Main Sources:
Shigley, J.E., Mischke, C.R., Budynas, R.C., Mechanical Engineering Design
Hamrock, B.J., Jacobson, B., Schmid, S. R., Fundamentals of Machine Elements
Khonsari, M.M., Booser, E. R., Applied Tribology
http://www.utm.edu/departments/engin/lemaster/
http://iec.skf.com/
http://www.fag.com/content.fag.de/en/index.jsp
http://www.cwbearing.com/

Introduction

Rolling-contact bearings are used to minimize the friction associated with

relative motion performed under load. To achieve this, the main load is
transferred through elements in rolling contact rather than in sliding contact.

Sliding Versus Rolling Bearings

Bearing Types
Ball Bearings

Angular ball bearings have higher thrust load

capacity in one direction than due radial ball
bearings.

Bearing Types
Roller Bearings
Roller bearings have higher load capacity than ball bearings.
Needle bearings have very high load ratings and require less space.
Spherical

Straight roller

Spherical roller, thrust Tapered roller, thrust

Tapered

Needle

Tapered roller

Steep-angle tapered roller

Bearing Types
Roller Bearings

Radial cylindrical

Radial tapered

Needle drawn cup

Needle - thrust

Thrust

Needle heavy duty

Needle - cage

Bearing Life
The bearing life is defined as
- The number of revolutions or
- The number of operating hours at a given speed
which the bearing is capable of enduring before the first
sign of metal fatigue (flaking, spalling) occurs on one of
its rings or rolling elements.
The rating life, L10, of a group of identical bearings is
defined as the life that 90 percent of them will at least
achieve before the failure criterion develops.
The median life is the 50th percentile life of a group of
bearings corresponding to between 4 and 5 times the L10
life.

Static Load Rating

The basic static load rating C0 is used in calculations when the
bearings are to
rotate at very slow speeds (n < 10 r/min)
perform very slow oscillating movements
be stationary under load for certain extended periods.
Verification of the static bearing loads is performed checking the
static safety factor of the application, which is defined as:
s0

C0
P0

where
C0 = basic static load rating, kN
P0 = equivalent static bearing load, kN
s0 = static safety factor

Equivalent Static Bearing Load

The equivalent static radial load does the same damage as the
combined radial and thrust loads together.
P0 X 0 Pr Y0 Pa

Bearing Load Life Relationship

Typical bearing load-life log-log curve

This function can be expressed as

p
with p = 3 for ball bearings
L2 P1

L1 P2
p = 10/3 for roller bearings

Basic Dynamic Load Rating

The basic dynamic load rating is that load which will cause 10% of a sample
of bearings to fail at or before 1 million revolutions and the others 90% to
survive.
or C P Lh n60
C PL
1

6
10

The Basic Rating Life is

C
L10
P

or

L10h

106 C

60n P

where
L10 = basic rating life (at 90 % reliability), millions of revolutions
L10h = basic rating life (at 90 % reliability), operating hours
C = basic dynamic load rating, kN
P = equivalent dynamic bearing load, kN
n = rotational speed, r/min

Equivalent Dynamic Bearing Load

A rotation factor V is defined as V = 1 when the inner ring rotates
and V = 1.2 when the outer ring rotates.
P X iVPr Yi Pa

Variable Loading
For a piecewise constant loading in a cyclic pattern

where
Pe,i = equivalent radial load for the ith event
ni = speed of the ith event
Ti = time period of the ith event

Using the linear damage theory the equivalent constant load is

1
j
p
p
Ti ni Pe ,i

P i 1 j

Ti ni
i 1

Guidelines on Bearing Life

Bearing Ratings
Example from SKF catalogue

Bearing Ratings
SKF 6308 NR:

Adjusted Rating Life

Recent experimental and analytical results indicate much longer
fatigue life under ideal conditions than predicted by basic life
calculations.
ABMA revised life equation
C
Lna a1 a 2 a3
P

or

Lna a1 a2 a3 L10

where
Lna = adjusted rating life, millions of revolutions
a1 = life adjustment factor for reliability.
a2 = life adjustment factor for material.
a3 = life adjustment factor for operating conditions.

Reliability versus Life

The reliability given by the three-parameter Weibull distribution is

x x b
0

R exp
x0

where R = reliability
x = life measure dimensionless variate, L/L10
x0 = guaranteed, or minimum, value of the variate
= characteristic parameter corresponding to the 63.2121 percentile
value of the variate
b = shape parameter that controls the skewness
b
The cumulative distribution function is

x x0

F 1 R 1 exp

x

0

The reliability of a group of N independent bearings with identical reliability

R is RN R N

Life Adjustment Factor for

Reliability

In the manufacturers catalogs, reliability is estimated using

L 1.5

R exp
4
.
48
L

10

giving a life adjustment factor a1 = L/L10 equal to

L
100
a1
4.48 ln

L10
R

that can be presented in a table, like this one

Constant Reliability Contours

A Catalog rating C10 at x = L/L10 = 1

B Load C10 at R = RD
D Design load PD and life xD = LD/L10 with the desired reliability RD

Manufacturers own Life Factors

Most manufacturers have detailed programs to help select bearings.

SKF revised life equation

Lna a1 a SKF L10

where aSKF is the life adjustment factor for lubricant film thickness,
for loading relative to fatigue load limit (infinite life) and for
contamination. This replaces a2a3 in estimating fatigue life in
operating conditions from severe to ideal.

Manufacturers own Life Factors

CW revised life equation
Lnm a1 a ISO L10

where aISO is the adjustment factor for operating conditions and

takes account of the bearing load, the lubrication condition (type
and viscosity of the lubricant, additives, speed, bearing size), the
fatigue limit of the material, the type of bearing, the environmental
conditions (contamination of the lubricant).

Manufacturers own Life Factors

FAG revised life equation
Lnm a1 a DIN L10

where aDIN is the adjustment factor

for operating conditions and takes
account of the bearing load, the
lubrication condition (type and
viscosity of the lubricant, additives,
speed, bearing size), the fatigue limit
of the material, the type of bearing,
the environmental conditions
(contamination of the lubricant).

Variation of lubricant viscosity as a

function of temperature (SKF)

Reference Viscosity (SKF)

SKF
Lubricant Contamination Factor

Factor aSKF for Radial Ball Bearings

(SKF)

Factor aSKF for Radial Roller

Bearings (SKF)

Variation of lubricant viscosity as a

function of temperature (CW)

Reference Viscosity (CW)

CW
Lubricant Contamination Factor

Factor aISO for Radial Ball Bearings

(CW)