Bolted bearing connections are one of the most important connections in some industrial structures, and manufacturers are always looking for a quick calculation model for a safe design. In this context, all the analytical and numerical models reduce the global study to the study of the most critical sector. Therefore, the main inputs for these models are the maximal equivalent contact load and the corresponding contact angle. Thus, a load distribution calculation model that takes all the important parameters, such as the stiffness of the supporting structure and the variation in the contact angle, into consideration is needed. This paper presents a 3D finite element (FE) simplified analysis of load distribution and contact angle variation in a slewing ball bearing. The key element of this methodology, which is based on the Hertz theory, is modeling the rolling elements under compression by nonlinear traction springs between the centers of curvature of the raceways. The contact zones are modeled by rigid shells to avoid numerical singularities. Each raceway curvature center is coupled to the corresponding contact zone by rigid shells. The main contribution of this method is not only the evaluation of the contact loads with a relatively reduced calculation time but also the variation in the contact angle from the deformed coordinates of the curvature centers. Results are presented for several loading cases: axial loading, turnover moment, and a combined loading of axial force and turnover moment. The influence of the most important parameters such as the contact angle, the stiffness of the bearings, and the supporting structure is discussed. Finally, a preliminary experimental validation is conducted on a standard ball bearing. The results presented in this paper seem encouraging. The FE study shows an important influence of several parameters and a good correlation with experimental results. Consequently, this model can be extended to other types of slewing bearings such as roller bearings. Moreover, it can be implemented in complex industrial structures such as cranes and lifting devices to determine the corresponding load distributions and contact angles and, consequently, the most critical sector.
[1]
Jorge Damian,et al.
Load distribution in a four contact-point slewing bearing
,
2003
.
[2]
M. J. Neale,et al.
Ball and Roller Bearings
,
1976
.
[3]
Gabriel Abba,et al.
Approximate Analytical Model for Hertzian Elliptical Contact Problems
,
2006
.
[4]
A. B. Jones.
A General Theory for Elastically Constrained Ball and Radial Roller Bearings Under Arbitrary Load and Speed Conditions
,
1960
.
[5]
T. A. Harris,et al.
Rolling Bearing Analysis
,
1967
.
[6]
Luc Houpert,et al.
An Engineering Approach to Hertzian Contact Elasticity—Part I
,
2001
.
[7]
Sayed A. Nassar,et al.
Cumulative Clamp Load Loss Due to a Fully Reversed Cyclic Service Load Acting on an Initially Yielded Bolted Joint System
,
2007
.
[8]
Alain Daidié,et al.
Screw behavior in large diameter slewing bearing assemblies: numerical and experimental analyses
,
2007
.
[9]
J. F. Rigal,et al.
Static Rolling Bearing Models in a C.A.D. Environment for the Study of Complex Mechanisms: Part II—Complete Assembly Model
,
1999
.
[10]
J. F. Rigal,et al.
Static Rolling Bearing Models in a C.A.D. Environment for the Study of Complex Mechanisms: Part I—Rolling Bearing Model
,
1999
.
[11]
L. Houpert,et al.
A uniform analytical approach for ball and roller bearings calculations
,
1997
.
[12]
M. Sartor,et al.
Calculation of the Stiffness Matrix of Angular Contact Ball Bearings by Using the Analytical Approach
,
2000
.
[13]
Gabriel Abba,et al.
A New Proposal for Explicit Angle Calculation in Angular Contact Ball Bearing
,
2006
.
[14]
S. Zupan,et al.
Carrying angle and carrying capacity of a large single row ball bearing as a function of geometry parameters of the rolling contact and the supporting structure stiffness
,
2001
.
[15]
Jen Fin Lin,et al.
A New Method for the Analysis of Deformation and Load in a Ball Bearing With Variable Contact Angle
,
2001
.
[16]
Johannes Brändlein,et al.
Ball and roller bearings: Theory, design, and application
,
1985
.