Rolling Element Bearing Stiffness Matrix Determination (Presentation)

Conference · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2014

OSTI ID:1115768

Guo, Y.; Parker, R.

Current theoretical bearing models differ in their stiffness estimates because of different model assumptions. In this study, a finite element/contact mechanics model is developed for rolling element bearings with the focus of obtaining accurate bearing stiffness for a wide range of bearing types and parameters. A combined surface integral and finite element method is used to solve for the contact mechanics between the rolling elements and races. This model captures the time-dependent characteristics of the bearing contact due to the orbital motion of the rolling elements. A numerical method is developed to determine the full bearing stiffness matrix corresponding to two radial, one axial, and two angular coordinates; the rotation about the shaft axis is free by design. This proposed stiffness determination method is validated against experiments in the literature and compared to existing analytical models and widely used advanced computational methods. The fully-populated stiffness matrix demonstrates the coupling between bearing radial, axial, and tilting bearing deflections.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Wind and Water Power Technologies Office
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 1115768
• Report Number(s): NREL/PR-5000-60639
• Conference Information: NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
42 ENGINEERING
BEARING
CONTACT
FINITE ELEMENT
NREL
ROLLING ELEMENT
STIFFNESS