Traction effects on the dynamics of ball bearings

In the paper, a combined model of traction and ball bearings dynamics is established, considering the interaction among the cage, races, and balls. A curve-fitted traction model, which can be used to analyze the effect of the geometry of the bearing and parameters of the lubricant, is applied. The traction that is affected by certain parameters is analyzed; then, the effect of the traction on ball bearings is investigated. The displacements of balls and contact angles are different under different surface roughness. The changes in displacements of balls and contact angles are obtained with different roughness, load, and velocities. The amplitudes of axial displacement of balls are bigger with the roughness being higher. The amplitudes of ball-inner contact angles increase with greater roughness, and the amplitudes of ball-outer race contact angles decrease with greater roughness. The simulated vibration results of ball bearings under different levels agree with the actual by the model.