The Influence of Gear Bore Deflections on Bearing Reliability

The calculation of rolling element loads and fatigue life for a roller bearing usually assumes that the raceways are cylindrical and rigid. That is, the rolling element loads do not distort the raceways. In some cases, this is a poor assumption and results in improper bearing selection and unsatisfactory performance. This paper describes an analytical method to determine the influence of race deflections on bearing performance. The example of a bearing mounted in a gear bore is used to illustrate how these deflections can result in significant changes in bearing performance.