Design Level 2 Lecture Series R: Reliability in Engineering Design

Lecture R01: Ball Bearings (rating and life)

bearing life definitions
for individual bearing
for a population of bearings
life dispersion curve
rating life
average life

basic load rating

definition

variation of life with load

experimental results
choice of basic load rating

equivalent radial load

definition
calculation from radial and axial forces

types of bearings
bearing attributes
ball bearing terminology
types of ball bearings (examples)
types of roller bearings (examples)

bearing configurations
issues in bearing mounting arrangements
axial location methods
Lecture R01:

Ball Bearings
(rating and life)

bearing life definitions

rating life

basic load rating

variation of life with load

equivalent radial load

types of bearing

bearings configurations

R01 1
bearing life definitions

Individual Bearing
The life of an individual bearing is defined as the total number
of revolutions (or hours at some given speed) at which the
bearing runs before the first evidence of fatigue develops.

Population of Bearings
considerable amount of life scatter
typical of fatigue testing
use a Life Dispersion Curve to describe distribution
1.0
Proportion of bearings failed.

probability
0.8 of survival

0.6

50%
0.4 probability
of failure

0.2

10% Life
1 2 3 4

Rating Average
Life Life

R01 2
bearing life definitions (continued)

rating life
The rating life of a group of apparently identical ball bearings is
defined as the number of revolutions that 90% of the group will
complete before the first evidence of fatigue develops.

average life
(same, but 50%)
For ball bearings, it is generally accepted that the average
life is about 5 times the rated life.

Notes:
that some manufacturers use rated life and others use
average life in their catalogue.
above definitions are in accordance with AFBMA standard
(Anti-Friction Bearing Manufacturers Association).

R01 3
basic load rating

definition
The basic load rating, C, is that constant stationary radial load
which a group of apparently identical ball bearings can endure
for a rating life of one million revolutions of the inner ring.

constant in magnitude
stationary in direction
radial no axial thrust
inner ring rotates fixed housing
rating life i.e. 10% of population have failed
after 1,000,000 revolutions

(On single-row, angular contact ball bearings, the basic load

rating relates to the radial component of the load, which results
in a purely radial displacement of the bearing rings in relation to
each other.)

Note: the basic load rating is tabulated in

bearing manufacturers catalogues.

R01 4
variation of life with load

experimental results

Experiments show that two groups of identical bearings

tested under different loads ( P1 andP2 )
will have lives L1 and L2 with:

L1 P2 3 ball bearings
= 3 1 roller bearings
L2 P1 3

For example, if the load on a ball bearing is reduced by half,

2 3
its life will increase by a factor of approximately = 8.
1

Expressing the life, L, of a bearing subject to load, P, in terms of

the basic load rating, C, we put:
L2 = 1,000,000 revolutions
P2 = C

L = (C P) millions of revolutions

Conversely, if we require a bearing to have a life, L, when

subject to load, P, then we must select a bearing with a basic
load rating given by:
1
L revolutions
C = P
1,000,000 revolutions

R01 5
equivalent radial load

Recall basic load rating C of a ball bearing is based on:

(a) a rotating inner ring;
(b) stationary outer ring;
(c) pure radial load.

But most ball bearings operate with combinations of radial and

thrust loads, and outer rings may be rotating. Therefore, an
eqivalent radial load P is defined as the calculated radial load
which will have the same effect on bearing life as do the applied
loads, the ring rotation also being considered.

The AFBMA value is the maximum of:

P = VFr

P = XVFr + YFa

where Fr = applied radial load

Fa = applied thrust load
X = a radial factor
Y = a thrust factor
V = a radial factor
V =1 : inner ring rotating
V = 1.2 : outer ring rotating

R01 6
types of bearings

bearings are made in a wide range of types

these vary in terms of:
ability to resist axial thrust
acceptable ratio of ( Fa Fr ) = (axial thrust / radial force)
ability to tolerate shaft misalignment
ability to tolerate slope (angular deflection) of shaft
frictional resistance to rotation
compactness

Ball bearing terminology:

width
corner
radius
outer ring
shoulders
inner ring
corner
outside diameter

radius

inner ring
bore

ball race

separator
(retainer)
outer ring
face ball race

R01 7
types of bearings (continued)

Some examples:
(a) ball bearings

(b) cylindrical, tapered, and needle roller bearings

R01 8
bearing mounting configurations

some examples:

threaded circlip
nut (& spacer)
(shaft)

bolted
cover
(housing)
tapered
clamping
interference sleeve
fit ring

R01 9