Experimental Testing and Thermal Analysis of Angular Contact Ball Bearings

Experimental results reveal that the temperature rise of two contacting bodies in relative sliding motion is related to increase of torque and loads caused by expansion of bearing components. The evolution of effects of thermally induced loads with time in an angular contact ball bearing in a controlled temperature environment is studied experimentally and analytically. The test apparatus is an axially-loaded angular contact ball bearing instrumented to measure the dynamic frictional torque as well as the transient temperature of the raceway and environment inside of a chamber with controlled temperature. Effects of friction torque were examined at different speeds, operating temperatures and pre-loads. The mathematical model developed provides a comprehensive thermal analysis of the ball bearing with provision for frictional heat generation, heat transfer processes and thermal expansion of bearing components. Experiments are performed for different speeds, temperatures and pre-loads to validate the model. Simulations results indicate that higher rotational speed, higher load and high temperature are related to thermally-induced preload in ball bearings.