Research on the Theory and Methodology of Wind Turbine Bearing Downscaling Tests

Due to various limitations such as the cost of test benches, loading techniques, and equipment, conducting performance and life assessment tests on wind turbine bearings has made full-scale testing even more challenging. Therefore, in order to save experimental costs while ensuring accurate and reasonable research into the reliable operation of wind turbine main shaft bearings. Before officially putting the wind turbine into use, it is crucial to carry out bearing performance and enhanced similarity tests, explore the scaling theory for wind turbine main bearings, and validate accelerated life tests for the bearings. This paper reviews the current development status of scaling tests for main bearings both domestically and internationally. It also discusses and analyzes the similarity theory for scaled- down tests of large wind turbine bearings, as well as the scaled-down design of wind turbine bearing tests, which provides theoretical support for the research of gear scaling.