Effects of positioning of inner race micro-textures on the tribodynamic performances of radial ball bearings

• Published in: Mechanical systems and signal processing Vol. 223; p. 111908
• Main Authors: Gouda, Bansidhar, Tandon, N., Pandey, R.K., Babu, C.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.01.2025
• Subjects: Bulk temperature rise; Conventional bearing (CB); Film thickness; Frictional torque; Micro-textured bearing (MTB); Overall vibration level; Frictional torque; Overall vibration level; Micro-textured bearing (MTB); Film thickness; Conventional bearing (CB); Bulk temperature rise
• ISSN: 0888-3270
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ymssp.2024.111908

To improve the tribodynamic performance of ball bearings, micro-texturing has been widely used on bearing components and significant beneficial effects by using different shape, size and density of dimples at their contact zone has been reported in literature. However, behaviour of textures in vicinity of the contact zone in machine components particularly in ball bearings, where lubricant/grease is push aside from the contact zone has not been explored yet. Hence, two different configurations of micro-textured inner races (i.e., inner races with large number of circular micro-dimples circumferentially on both sides of the central non-textured zones of 2.2 and 1.0 mm) of a deep groove ball bearing have been fabricated by employing a low power laser marking machine. The performance of these micro-textured bearings (MTBs) possessing textured inner races and conventional outer race have been evaluated by conducting experiments in a test rig designed and fabricated inhouse. Capacitance based electrical method, load sensor, thermocouple and miniature type accelerometer have been employed for measuring film thickness, frictional torque, temperature rise and vibrations respectively at realistic bearing loads (speed: 1.4–5.6 m/s, and loads: pH=1.07–1.70 GPa) and the results were compared with that of a same size conventional bearing (SKF: BB1B 420 206). About 8–27 % improvement in film formation, reductions in overall vibration level (5–36 %), frictional torque (10–35 %) and bulk temperature rise (14–37 %) has been recorded in case of MTBs as compared to the conventional bearing (CB) cases at identical load conditions. Moreover, study on the effect of the positioning of the textures with respect to the contact zone on performance behavior of bearings indicated that the tribological and vibration behavior of MTB-2 (bearing with a micro-textured inner race where, textures were created in vicinity of 1.0 mm central non-textured zone) is better than that of the MTB-1 (bearing with a micro-textured inner race, where textures were created in vicinity of 2.2 mm central non-textured zone) and CB at tested loads and speed range.