A Sensitivity Study of Frequency Response Method for Setting Bearing Preload Due to Uncontrollable Parameters

Roller bearings are used in many rotating power transmission systems in the automotive industry. During the assembly process of the power transmission system, some types of roller bearings (e.g., tapered roller bearings) require a compressive preload force. Those bearings' rolling resistance and lifespan strongly depend on the preload set during the installation process. Therefore, accurate setting of the preload can improve bearing efficiency, increase bearing lifespan and reduce maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle. A new method for bearing preload measurement has shown potential for both high accuracy and fast cycle time using the frequency response characteristics of the power transmission system. One open problem is the design of the production controller which relies on a detailed sensitivity study of the system frequency response to changes in the bearing and system design parameters. Recently, an analytical model was developed for multi-row tapered roller bearings that includes all appropriate bearing and power transmission system design parameters. During the assembly process, some of the parameters related to the roller positions cannot be controlled. These parameters include the actual position of the first roller compared to the vertical axis, the relative position of the rollers between the bearing rows, and others. This work presents a sensitivity analysis of the effects of those uncontrollable parameters on the analytical model. The sensitivity study determines the percentage change in the output of the analytical model due to a percentage change in each of the uncontrollable parameters. The changes due to each of the uncontrollable parameter will be compared to the change due to the change in axial preload to understand the possible error in the natural frequency.