Analytical model for predicting false brinelling in bearings

Abstract

An analytical model is developed to simulate false brinelling in a bearing based on the theory of energy dissipation. This model is capable of predicting false brinelling damage when the bearings are under vibrating conditions. The bearing used in this simulation is a cylindrical roller bearing which is made of 52100 high carbon bearing quality steel (ASTM A295). The model provides a local prediction of false brinelling for the position of each roller of a cylindrical roller bearing. The model is validated using the modified 3D FE model and test-rig developed by the authors in previous work. The analytical model is shown to be far more time-efficient (by more than 10000 times) compared with the false brinelling 3D FE model. The model is used to compare the false brinelling damage in the inner and outer raceways, in both the lateral and axial directions of the bearing. The results showed that the wear marks on the outer raceway were approximately 5% shallower than the ones on the inner raceway; the volume of wear on the outer raceway was about 9% greater than the wear on the inner raceway. The model is also used to investigate the influence of the amplitude of the normal load and vibration on the wear damage caused by false brinelling. It is shown that the depth of wear increases when the normal load is decreased, and the vibration amplitude is increased. This change is particularly significant when the normal load (maximum contact pressure) on the bearing is less than 1000 N (800 MPa).