Effects of Roller-End/Rib Geometrical Shape of Cylindrical Roller Bearings on Tribological Behavior

Abstract In general, the roller end of a cylindrical roller bearing engages with the rib. The contact conditions are dictated by the geometry of the rib and the roller end, which determine the axial load-carrying capacity of the bearing and tribological behavior at the surfaces of the rib and roller end. In this study, a model of cylindrical roller bearings was developed under combined load. In the model, the quasi-dynamic calculation was coupled with the elastohydrodynamic lubrication program to evaluate axial load-carrying capacity and frictional loss. Results indicated that spherical roller ends with small radii combined with toroidal concave ribs were advantageous with regard to low frictional loss under light axial load. In addition, toroidal rib geometries have higher axial load-carrying capacity. When the roller was subjected to severe axial load, the combination of the optimized spherical roller ends and toroidal rib geometries can produce frictional loss comparable to that of the tapered rib.