A finite element model for rolling contact fatigue of refurbished bearings

• Published in: Tribology international Vol. 85; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Authors: Paulson, Neil R., Evans, Nathan E., Bomidi, John A.R., Sadeghi, Farshid, Evans, Ryan D., Mistry, Kuldeep K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2015
• Subjects: Bearing life prediction; Bearing refurbishing; Bearings; Contact; Damage; Damage accumulation; Damage mechanics; Fatigue failure; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Refurbishing; Rolling contact fatigue; Damage mechanics; Bearing refurbishing; Bearing life prediction; Rolling contact fatigue
• ISSN: 0301-679X; 1879-2464
• DOI: 10.1016/j.triboint.2014.12.006

Bearing refurbishing has become a popular method of extending the life of rolling element bearings. In the refurbishing process the raceways of the bearing may be ground to remove any surface damage prior to repolishing and reassembly with larger sized rolling elements. In the current study a continuum damage mechanics finite element model was developed to quantify the damage in original and refurbished bearings. After calculating the damage accumulation for a set number of contact cycles with the original bearing geometry, refurbishing is simulated by removing a layer of the original surface. The refurbished microstructural model is then subjected to additional computational contact cycles until a fatigue crack reaches the surface, signifying failure. This model preserves the fatigue damage accumulated prior to refurbishing and evaluates its influence on the refurbished bearing fatigue life. All refurbished bearing surfaces showed a significant amount of life after refurbishing with L10 lives from the point of refurbishment, varying from 20% to 94% of the original L10 life. The results indicate that the remaining life of the refurbished bearing population is inversely related to the time before refurbishing and is proportional to the depth of the regrinding. Results obtained from this investigation are in good agreement when compared to the Lundberg-Palmgren bearing life equation modified for analyzing the life of a refurbished bearing. •Rolling contact fatigue in refurbished bearings was simulated.•Fatigue damage model is proposed to numerically estimate the fatigue life.•Results show refurbished lives vary from 20 to 94% of the original L10 life.•Analytical model compares well to previously proposed models.