Vibration based performance prediction of ball bearings caused by localized defects

This paper is focused on accurate performance prediction due to localized defects (like spalls) of microns level on the bearing components, which is essential to the design for high performance. In the mathematical formulation, the contacts between the rolling elements and the races are considered as nonlinear springs, whose stiffnesses are obtained by using Hertzian contact deformation theory. The formulation predicts the discrete spectra with the characteristic defect frequencies and their harmonics, which is helpful in prediction of system stability and to avoid severe (chaotic) vibrations in a rotor bearing system. The results are presented in the form of bifurcation diagrams, Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) and Poincar, maps for individual defects of bearing components. The system also shows the three different categories of system behavior under nonlinear dynamic conditions.