Effect Of Roller Profile On Cylindrical Roller Bearing Life Prediction—Part I: Comparison of Bearing Life Theories

Four rolling-element bearing life theories were chosen for analysis and compared for a simple roller-race geometry model. The life theories were those of Weibull; Lundberg and Palmgren; Ioannides and Harris; and Zaretsky. The analysis without a fatigue limit of Ioannides and Harris is identical to the Lundberg and Palmgren analysis, and the Weibull analysis is similar to that of Zaretsky if the exponents are chosen to be identical. The resultant predicted life at each stress condition not only depends on the life equation used but also on the Weibull slope assumed. The least variation in predicted life with Weibull slope comes with the Zaretsky equation. Except for a Weibull slope of 1.11, at which the Weibull equation predicts the highest lives, the highest lives are predicted by the Zaretsky equation. For Weibull slopes of 1.5 and 2, both the Lundberg-Palmgren and Ioannides-Harris (where τu equals 0) equations predict lower lives than the ANSI/ABMA/ISO standard. Based upon the Hertz stresses for line contact, the accepted load-life exponent of 10/3 results in a maximum Hertz stress-life exponent equal to 6.6. This value is inconsistent with that experienced in the field. The assumption of a shear stress fatigue limit τu results in Hertz stress-life exponents greater than are experimentally verifiable. Presented at the 55th Annual Meeting Nashville, Tennessee May 7–11, 2001

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