Thermal Interactions in Rolling Bearing Dynamics

Modeling of dynamic performance of rolling bearings as a function of thermal interactions resulting from applied operating conditions and internal frictional dissipations is proposed. The overall development consists of a thermal interaction model to predict temperature distributions under both liquid and solid lubricated conditions, coupling of the thermal model with the contact mechanics models, and finally incorporation of these local interaction models in a bering dynamics computer code. In the proposed Phase I effort technical feasibility of the modeling approach shall be proven by development of a thermal model to compute contact temperatures in ball, cylindrical and tapered roller bearings, implementation of the model into existing bering dynamics computer codes, and by carrying out parametric studies to demonstrate a relationship between contact temperatures and applied operating conditions with prescribed bearing geometry. A more extensive development, where changes in bulk temperatures, resulting thermal distortion and changes in bearing geometry, closer integration of the thermal and contact mechanics models, modeling of thermally induced instabilities in bearing element motion, and integrated computer codes for bearing design and performance diagnosis, shall be the subjects of technical development in Phase II. It is anticipated that the enhanced bearing dynamics computer codes will provide immediate technology transfer for bearing design and performance diagnosis. In fact, even the contact temperature models proposed in Phase I offer stand-alone practical potential for design and failure diagnosis, since the Phase I work scope includes the implementation of these models in bearing dynamics computer codes.