Modelling the wear behaviour of a self-lubricating composite bearing

The paper describes a numerical model for estimating the progression of wear in a self lubricating spherical plain bearing over its useful wear life. Self-lubricating bearings have been in widespread use since the mid-1950s, predominantly in the aerospace industry where they have the advantage of being low maintenance components. They are commonly used in relatively low speed, reciprocating applications such as control surface actuators, and usually consist of a spherical bearing with the inner and outer elements separated by a composite textile resin-bonded liner. A mathematical model has been developed which can be used to predict the local contact pressures and wear rates in a composite bearing at different states of wear. Results from the model have been verified against full-scale bearing tests.