Development of Mainshaft High-Speed Cylindrical Roller Bearings for Gas Turbine Engines.

Abstract : This combined analytical and experimental program is aimed at generating a manual that will permit the design of 3.0 MDN cylindrical roller bearings. The roller bearing analysis will be correlated with the results from a series of bearing tests designed to determine, by statistical methods, the effect of geometrical variables on bearing performance. An existing quasi-static design optimization system was previously upgraded and the basic analyses for use in developing a program to predict the dynamic behavior of roller bearing components was completed. A study identified a total of thirty separate bearing parameters that can influence roller skewing and skidding. Two groups of 124 mm roller bearing designs were then prepared using statistical design techniques and incorporating parameters from the list of thirty. Fabrication of full-scale bearing hardware was completed and testing was completed. Results indicate that roller end wear is significantly affected by roller corner radius runout.