Losses due to friction in radial-axial ball bearings at high rotational speeds

A complex theoretical model for friction loss computation in high speed angular ball bearings has been presented. The theoretical model includes the dynamic and kinematic interactions in the angular ball bearings with numerical integration of the ball and cage motion equations. The shear stresses on the elliptical surfaces are determined by an original bidimensional rheological model in the elastohydrodynamic regime hypothesis, and for the cage-race interactions an experimental model has been determined. Some theoretical elliptical sliding speeds, shear stresses and power losses have been determined for 7206 C angular contact ball bearings in the range from 5000 to 35,000 rev/min. Both theoretical and experimental outer-race torques have been determined and a good correlation between 5000 and 26,000 rev/min is determined.