Toward an Electrical Monitoring of Load Distribution in Bearings

Abstract This article introduces a novel approach to modeling load distribution in rolling bearings, aimed at advancing the development of an interpretative framework for signatures derived from electrical monitoring. In the first part, an alternative to the computation of Harris' integrals is presented, based on the assumption of noncollinearity between the applied force, F→, and the displacement, d→, that it causes between the bearing rings’ center. This hypothesis leads to the determination of the value of a corrective angle, which ensures compliance with Newton's first law within the component for all possible load distributions during bearing rotation. This angle is then analyzed with respect to mechanical parameters such as the load distribution factor and the material's mechanical behavior. In a second part, the electrical response is investigated using a simplified electromechanical model of the contact between rolling elements and rings, and compared to the response obtained from the conventional Harris' approach. The results show that introducing this corrective angle slightly affects the overall bearing resistance during rotation, particularly in cases of asymmetrical load distribution. Moreover, the findings highlight the emergence of a frequency component in the electrical response, arising from the evolution of the load distribution, which is commonly attributed to the presence of a defect.