BEARINGS

Consider how many things in your life turn or revolve. skate wheels, electric
motors, car wheels, microwave turntables, even your PC has bearings in
it.The humble bearing makes many of today's machines a reality. Without
them we would not be able to make precision items on a massive scale and
things would wear out quickly due to excessive friction. This page is designed
to give you an idea of what bearings are, what they do and the formats they
come in.

Simply put...
All things roll and rotate better than they slide. If the wheel did not exist we
would be stuck with sliding things everywhere. Consequently little progress
in the world would be achieved. Sliding causes friction. Friction is caused by
two surfaces resisting movement between them. If however two surfaces can
contact each other by rolling then friction problems are significantly reduced.
Bearings reduce friction either by using hard smooth balls or rollers, and a
smooth inner and outer surface for the balls to roll against or by introducing a
low friction surface between the surfaces. These balls or rollers "bear" any
loads which they may be subjected to thus allowing the bearing to rotate
smoothly.

How bearings 'bear' load

Ball bearings are typically capable of dealing with two kinds of loading
condition; radial load and thrust load. Depending on the type of application
the bearing is used in, it may experience radial load only, thrust load only or a
Roller bearings like the one illustrated above are used in applications
like conveyer belt rollers, where they must hold heavy radial loads. In
these bearings, the roller is a cylinder, so the contact between the inner
and outer race is not a point but a line. This spreads the load out over a
larger area, allowing the bearing to handle much greater loads than a ball
bearing. However, this type of bearing is not designed to handle much
thrust loading.
Tapered roller bearings are used in car
hubs, where they are usually mounted in
pairs facing opposite directions so that they
can handle thrust in both directions.
Roller thrust bearings like
the one illustrated below
can support large thrust
loads. They are often Ball thrust bearings like
found in gear sets like car the one shown below
transmissions between are mostly used for
gears, and between the low-speed applications
housing and the rotating and cannot handle
shafts. The helical gears much radial load.
used in most
Barstools and Lazy
transmissions have
Susan turntables use
angled teeth -- this
this type of bearing.
causes a thrust load that
must be supported by a
bearing.
Need for bearings

• Rotating elements (usually shafts) need to be supported

and friction must be minimized at the supports

• Mating parts in sliding contact - Introduction of

lubricant in between – Hydrodynamic or Hydrostatic
journal bearings

• Introduction of a rolling element between the shaft and

the support and lubricated – Rolling contact bearings
 Sliding or Rolling Bearings
Sliding bearings:
sliding friction

µ
Rolling bearings:
rolling friction µ
 Principles of Operation
Rolling Friction (Rolling Bearing)
Roller/ball
Outer Ring
Lubrication

Inner Ring

Sliding Friction (Sleeve Bearing)

Hydrodynamic lift is Sleeve

generated by fluid being
dragged into gap by
viscous shear Lubrication

Circumferential
pressure profile
Rolling Contact Bearings – Some characteristics
ME 350
• Rolling contact bearings also called as Anti-friction
bearings
• But coefficient of friction is comparable with thick film
hydrodynamic journal bearings Average coefficient of
friction for rolling contact bearings ranges between
0.0010 to 0.0018 (catalogued values)
• Due to small contact area and large stresses, the
components of rolling contact bearings are made from
hard and superior materials compared to the shaft and
housing
• So the rolling contact bearing is made available as an
assembly – Outer ring, Inner ring, Rolling element,
Separator (Retainer or Cage), and in some cases – shield
or seal 8
Rolling Contact Bearings – Some characteristics
ME 350

• Load transfer is through rolling elements – like balls and

rollers – Small value of coefficient of friction
• Starting friction is very less compared to sliding contact
bearings, suitable for intermittent operation (On/Off
cycles)
• Rolling bearings can take high overloads for short
duration

• Lubrication is simple – Bearings pre-packed with grease

are common in use

9
Rolling Contact Bearings – Some characteristics
ME 350

• The bearings can take combination of radial and thrust

loads

• Advantageous, if limited space is available in axial

direction (Needs more space in radial direction)

• Noisy at high RPM

10
Types of Antifriction Bearings
Ball Bearings
Bearings Components

Seal Rolling elements Inner ring

Outer ring Cage Seal

 Types of Antifriction Bearings
Tapered Roller
Bearings
保持架
•Components:
Cone
= Inner ring
Cup
= Outer ring
Tapered rollers
Cage
= Space retainer
Types of Antifriction Bearings
Roller and Ball Contact Area/Form
Rolling Elements

Ball Spherical Asymmetrical

Cylindrical Taper

Needle
 Types of Ball Bearings

Bearing Bearing Bearing Bearing Bearing

Bearing Bearing Bearing Bearing

Bearing
 Types of Ball Bearings
• Single Row Deep Groove (Conrad) Bearing
Spherical balls roll in deep groove in both races
 Space maintained by separators (retainers/cages)
 Ball radius smaller than groove radius
 Mostly take radial loads, some thrust load
 Theoretical point contact (actually a small circular area), so high local
contact stress
 Some permissible misalignment
 Types of Ball Bearings
• Double Row/Deep Groove Bearing

Add another row to increase load capabilities

Greater load capabilities than SRDG
Smaller space requirement than 2 SRDG
More misalignment problems
Types of Ball Bearings
• Angular Contact Bearing
One side of race is higher
Can accommodate a larger thrust
Force resultant preferred between 15º and
40º
Types of Ball Bearings
• Self-aligning Bearing
Spherically ground outer race allows for
alignment flexibility

 Reduced load bearing capabilities, with

minimal thrust loading
Types of Ball Bearings
•Thrust Bearing
Large axial loading capabilities

Shaft speeds must be kept low because of

centrifugal forces
 Types of Roller Bearings
A)Cylindrical Bearing

B) Spherical Bearing

C) Tapered Roller, Thrust

Bearing

D) Needle Bearing

E) Tapered Roller
(Bearing)

F) Steep-angle Tapered
Roller Bearing
 Types of Roller Bearings
Cylindrical (Straight)Bearing
Greater radial load capacity
Theoretical line contact (actually a
rectangle), so lower contact stresses
Do not use for thrust - causes rubbing not
rolling
内圈单挡边 内圈单挡边
外圈无挡边 内圈无挡边 内圈单挡边
并带平挡圈 并带斜挡圈
 Types of Roller Bearings
Needle Bearing
Roller with small diameter
Small d, makes them radially compact, good for
large radial loads at high speeds
Thrust capabilities and misalignment poor
 Types of Roller Bearings
• Spherical Roller Bearing
One type of self-aligning
If misaligned - relative rotation of outer race
to rollers and inner race
Load capability increased

• Thrust Roller Bearing

Only resist thrust
Several types: rollers, tapered rollers
Types of Roller Bearings
• Tapered Roller Bearing
 Combine advantages of straight roller and ball
type bearings
 Can accommodate radial and axial loading
 High load bearing capabilities
 Selection Criteria
•Magnitude and proportion of axial and radial loads

•Misalignment between shaft axis and bearing

housing

•Deflection of shaft during operation

•Space availability in radial and axial direction

•Facility of lubrication
Basic types of rolling bearings are internationally
standardised. Within the scope of each type the bearings are
produced in various designs whose properties may differ
from the basic design. The following text gives brief
characteristics of individual types of rolling bearings; a
comparison of their utility properties can be found in the
table at the end of this document:
A. Deep groove ball bearings
•The cheapest and most commonly used bearing type; produced
in many designs and sizes
•The bearings are characterised by simple designs and cannot be
disassembled
•The bearings can handle operational conditions and their
maintenance is simple
•The bearings show relatively good load rating both in radial and
axial directions
•The bearings are suitable for high and very high speeds
•The bearings require good alignment of the journal and bearing
body; the permissible tilting angle is approx. 10'
•The bearings are delivered with shields or seals
B. Angular contact ball bearings
•Orbital paths are offset mutually in the direction of the bearing axis
•Designed to retain combined load with relatively large axial forces (axial load
of bearings increases with increasing contact angles)
•Single-row bearings enable the retention of axial forces only in one direction;
therefore these bearings are installed in pairs in opposite positions and as close
to each other as possible
•The bearings can be paired or double-row bearings can be used to retain
axial forces (pairs of bearings are delivered in one packing; as the bearings are
paired, bearings from different pairs must not be used together)
•Lower load rating than tapered roller bearings, however, may be used at
higher speeds
•Double-row bearings can retain tilting moments in the axial plane. However,
these types need perfect alignment and rigidity of seating and do not allow any
swinging of shafts
•Double-row bearings are also delivered with shields or seals
C. Self-aligning ball bearings

•Provided with two rows of ball bearings with spherical orbital

path on the outer ring
•Their design allows mutual tilting of rings (approx. 2-3°,
depending on the design)
•Suitable, above all, for seating, where the shaft shows deflections
or misalignment may occur
•Load rating of these bearings is lower than with single-row ball
bearings of the same size; not suitable for retaining larger axial
forces
•Produced usually with cylindrical or tapered holes
•Delivered also with seals
D. Cylindrical roller bearings

•Dismountable bearings, designed for transmissions of large radial loadings

(up to 60% higher load rating compared with ball bearings of the same size)
•High rigidity, therefore suitable for fluctuating and surge loads
•Bearings without cages (full complement) show higher loading capacities;
however, bearings with cages can be used for higher speeds
•Bearings with guiding collars on the outer and inner rings allow the retention
of higher axial forces. Other designs cannot retain any axial forces, however,
allow axial misalignment of the rings
•Cylindrical roller bearings require perfect alignment of the journal and
bearing body; the permissible maximum tilting angle is 3-4'
•Double-row cylindrical roller bearings are usually produced with both
cylindrical and tapered holes
E. Needle roller bearings
•In fact, needle bearings are cylindrical roller bearings with long slim rollers
(acc. to ISO, the roller length is min. 2.5 diameter)
•Show small installation height, high accuracy and rigidity
•Despite their low cross section, the bearings have a high load rating and are
therefore very suitable for seating where radial dimensions are limited
•Used, above all, for low speeds or swinging movements; also suitable for
fluctuating and surge loads
•Cannot retain any axial forces, however, allow axial misalignment of the rings
•One or both rings may be omitted to reduce the installation height; however,
seating surfaces on the shaft must then be hardened and machined carefully
•Show high requirements for alignment of the journal and bearing body, the
maximum permissible tilting angle is 3-4'
•Delivered also with seals
. Taper roller bearings
•Designed usually as dismountable, provided with tapered orbital paths on the
outer and inner rings with tapered rollers arranged in the paths
•High load rating; suitable especially for retaining simultaneously acting large
radial and axial forces
•Allow the retention of axial forces in one direction only; therefore installed in
pairs in opposite positions and as close to each other as possible
•In case of too high loading on the bearing or if axial forces must be retained
in both directions, the bearings can be paired (pairs of bearings are delivered
in one packing; as the bearings are paired, bearings from different pairs must
not be used together)
•Higher load rating than angular contact ball bearings, however, these types
are designed for lower speeds
•Seating surfaces for tapered roller bearings must be aligned; the permissible
tilting angle is 2-4'
G. Spherical roller bearings
•Two rows of spherical rollers with a common spherical path on the
outer ring
•Their design allows mutual tilting of rings (approx. 1.5-2.5°,
depending on the design)
•High load rating, retention of radial and simultaneously also axial
forces in both directions
•Suitable for large loads with misaligned seating and deflections of
shafts
•Produced usually with cylindrical and tapered holes; non-
dismountable
•Delivered also with seals
H. Toroidal roller bearings
•Single-row bearings with long, slightly spherical rolling elements; orbital
paths of the outer and inner rings are concave and symmetrical along the axis
running through the bearing centre
•The design combines the tilting ability of a spherical roller bearing
(permissible tilting angle approx. 0.5°) with the ability of axial balancing,
typical for rolling elements; they also show relatively small installation height
•High radial load rating even if the bearing must compensate a misalignment
or axial shifts
•Reduce vibrations in seating; axial vibrations of the shaft are not transferred
to the body
•Load rating of full complement bearings is significantly higher than bearings
with cages
•Produced with both cylindrical and tapered holes
•Delivered also with seals
. I Thrust ball bearings
•Designed only for retaining axial forces; radial forces cannot be retained
•Produced as single direction bearings or double direction bearings for
retaining axial forces in one or both directions respectively
•Not suitable for higher speeds; limit speeds are limited by adverse effects of
centrifugal forces
•These bearings must not work unloaded to prevent slipping of the balls
•Dismountable bearings; simple shapes and designs
•Correct functioning needs perpendicularity of the rings’ face surfaces to the
shaft axis
•The bearings designed with spherical seating surfaces can be used to
compensate for misalignment between the support surface in the housing and
the shaft
J Cylindrical roller thrust bearings
•Designed to retain large axial forces in one direction; radial forces
cannot be retained
•Form rigid seating; low sensitivity to surge loads
•Usable only at lower speeds; must not be operated unloaded to
prevent slipping of rolling elements
•Show simple shapes and designs; dismountable, require small
spaces in axial directions
•Correct functioning needs perpendicularity of the rings’ face
surfaces to the shaft axis
•Used especially where axial ball bearings cannot provide sufficient
load rating
K. Needle roller thrust bearings
•Designed to retain large axial loads in one direction; radial forces
cannot be retained
•Form rigid seating with minimum space requirements; low
sensitivity to surge loads
•Usable only at lower speeds; must not be operated unloaded to
prevent slipping of rolling elements
•Cages can be used in seating with needles independently or in
combinations with rings of various designs (all parts must be ordered
separately due to possibility to create various combinations)
•Correct functioning needs perpendicularity of the rings’ face
surfaces to the shaft axis
•Used especially where space is limited in axial directions
L. Spherical roller thrust bearings
•High axial load rating; can retain radial forces
•Suitable for retaining large axial forces even with relatively high
speeds
•Their design allows balancing of misalignment of the shaft and body
(permissible tilting of approx. 2-3° depends on the bearing design)
•The shaft ring and cage with spherical rollers form a non-
dismountable unit
•These types always need oil lubrication due to their inner
arrangement
Selection Criteria
Load and Life Considerations
ME 350

• Static load rating

• Dynamic capacity
• Life rating
• Equivalent load under conditions of
varying loads

42
Load Considerations
1. Static Load Capacity: Stribeck’s Equation
ME 350

• Stribeck’s equation is based on contact stress

analysis at the point of contact between the
balls as rolling elements and the inner race

• Based on static condition

• Derivation – Book (e.g. Schaum’s series)

43
Load Considerations
1. Static Load Capacity: Stribeck’s Equation
ME 350

For Single Row Deep Groove Ball Bearing

KZD 2 Stribeck’s Equation

C0
5

C0 – Static Capacity, Newton

K – Proportionality Constant = 61 x 106 N/m2
D – Dia. of each ball, metre,
Z – Number of balls

44
 2. Static Load Rating - AFBMA Standard
ME 350
2
Co f oiZD cos
Co = Basic Static Load Rating – Defined as the static load
on non-rotating bearing corresponding to a total
permanent deformation of ball and race at the most
heavily stressed contact of 0.0001 times the ball
diameter
i = No. of balls in any one row; Z = No. of balls per row
D = Ball diameter, m; α = Nominal angle of contact =
The nominal angle between the line of action of the
ball load and a plane perpendicular the bearing axis
fo = A factor
= 3.34 x 106 N/m2 for self-aligning ball bearings
= 12.26 x 106 N/m2 for Radial and angular contact ball
bearings
45
3. Static Equivalent Load: AFBMA Standard
ME 350

Po X o Fr Yo Fa or Po Fr
such that Po always Fr

Po = Equivalent Static Load, defined as that load which

will cause same total permanent deformation at
the most heavily stressed contact as that which
occurs at actual condition of loading
Fr = Radial load, Fa = Axial load
Values of Xo and Yo are available from table

46
 Values of Xo and Yo - calculation of for
Static Equivalent Load
ME 350
Single Row Bearings Double Row Bearings
Bearing Type
Xo Yo Xo Yo
Radial Contact Groove 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.5
Ball Bearings

Angular α = 20o 0.5 0.42 1 0.84

Contact
Groove Ball α = 25
o 0.5 0.38 1 0.76
Bearings α = 30o 0.5 0.33 1 0.66
α = 35o 0.5 0.29 1 0.58
α = 40o 0.5 0.26 1 0.52
Self Aligning Ball Bearing 0.5 0.22Cot α 1 0.44Cot α

47
2. Static Equivalent Load
AFBMA Standard Contd. . .
ME 350

See Notes for additional information regarding different

configurations. e.g. double row ball bearings and if two
angular contact ball bearings are mounted together
- Machine Design by Hall et.al., Ch. 22, Pg. 258

48
3. Dynamic Load Rating: AFBMA
Standard ME 350

0.7 2/3 1.8

C fC i cos Z D
If ball diameter is less than 25.4 mm

0.7 2/3 1.4

C fC i cos Z 0.23D
If ball diameter is greater than 25.4 mm

C in Newton for D in metre

49
 Dynamic Load Rating: AFBMA Standard
ME 350

C = Basic Dynamic Load Rating – Defined as the constant stationary

radial with stationary outer ring can endure for rating life of one
million revolution of inner ring,
i = No. of balls in any one row; Z = No. of balls per row, D = Ball
diameter in meter,
α = Nominal angle of contact = The nominal angle between the line of action
of the ball load and a plane perpendicular the bearing axis
fC = A factor calculated from the table given on next slide

50
Multiply these values by f = 24.64 x 106 to get fC
ME 350

DCos fC /f

dm Single row radial contact , single Double row radial Self-aligning

and double row angular contact, contact groove ball ball bearings
groove ball bearings bearings

0.05 0.476 0.451 0.176

0.07 0.521 0.494 0.203

0.10 0.566 0.537 0.238

0.14 0.600 0.568 0.282

0.20 0.611 0.579 0.323

0.40 0.492 0.467 0.412

dm = Pitch diameter of the ball set 51

Equivalent Dynamic Load
ME 350

P XVFr YFa
P = Equivalent Radial Load
X = A radial factor, Y = A thrust factor
V = A rotation factor, Fr = Radial load
Fa = Radial load

Factors X, Y and V are provided by the

manufacturers
V depends on whether inner ring is rotating or outer
one, Bearing type and its design, Ratio Fa/VFr and
Fa/C0
52
Life Rating
ME 350

L = No. of revolutions in millions that 90% of the

bearings of a group of apparently
similar bearings will complete or exceed
before first evidence of fatigue develops
3
C C = Basic dynamic load rating
L P = Equivalent radial load
P

53
 Bearing Numbering system
ME 350
Width Code Dia. Code

X X X XX
1/5th of nominal bore,
Type of bearing for bores greater than 20 mm
N – Cylindrical Roller
1–
2 – Self Aligning Sph. Roller Some more prefixing/post-fixing
3 – Taper Roller Bearing Letters to indicate additional features
4–
5 – Thrust ball Bearing
6 – Deep Groove Ball Bearing
7 – Ang. Contact Ball Bearing

54
Bearing Type Selection
Bearing Type Selection
Criteria:
• Type of load: radial, thrust, combination of
both, steady or shock
• Magnitude of load
• Rotation speed
• Shaft misalignment
• Diameter of both shaft and housing
• Packaging constraints
• Desired life
• Maintenance requirements
Bearing Type Selection
Bearing Mountings

ME 350

58
Bearing Mountings
ME 350

59
Installation of Rolling Bearings
ME 350

Plummer Blocks / Bearing Housings

Seals
Use of Circlips and Bearing Caps
Duplexing – Angular contact ball bearings used in pair,
specially manufactured, increase in resistance to
misalignment and increased shaft stiffness

60
Installation of Rolling Bearings
ME 350

Preloading – For minimizing clearances, for increased

accuracy, use of adapter sleeve
Alignment – Care during assembly, Only two supports as
far as possible
Enclosure - Protection from dust, avoid loss of lubricant by
leakage

61
Lubrication – Points to note
ME 350

Methods of Lubrication
Higher rpm – Low viscosity oil
Smaller bearings – Suitable for larger rpm – increase in
linear speed and centrifugal force with radius

62