Relative fatigue life prediction of high-speed and heavy-load ball bearing based on surface texture

In this paper a new calculation method of relative fatigue life considering surface texture on high-speed and heavy-load ball bearing is presented. Rolling bearing quasi-dynamics, micro-TEHL analysis, non Gaussian surface simulating technique and stress analysis with FEM are combined to obtain the relative fatigue life. The maximum subsurface stress with the new method are compared with data in inference, the relative error is 3.9%, which caused by decreasing surface stress under high speed. The non-Gaussian surface textures effect on surface pressure and shear stress are studied, which show transverse texture perpendicular to entrainment direction is helpful to form film because of the increasing hydrodynamic effect, and decrease the pressure and shear stress, but longitudinal texture has an opposite effect. Non Gaussian parameters effects on relative fatigue life are researched, which display relative fatigue life increase with the increase of transverse texture, and decrease with the increasing longitudinal texture. The increasing skewness and curtosis can bring the decrease of relative fatigue life, but the relative fatigue life is beneficial as skewness is negative and curtosis is small, which is helpful for bearing life. Finally, the whole relative fatigue life of inner race and balls are given. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.