COMPUTING RACE WAYS SHAPE OF BALL BEARING

A quantitative correlation is demonstrated between the raceways microgeometry and friction torque in ball bearings. In the paper results, the microgeometry is: measured and processed over time and frequency domains for a standard quality controlled lot of bearings; simulated, via superposing the first 30 harmonics of a FOURIER series, based on previous experimental and theoretical research. A theoretical model is suggested too, considering possible superposing effects generated by the displacement of entire balls train over the raceways micro-geometry. Consequently, the variable component of friction torque in ball bearing is determined, underlining the main superposing frequencies, and, of course, several constructive optimisation rules, concerning mainly the balls number. The theory-experiment correlation was proved. The proposed quantitative correlation was statistically tested via the correlation factor. It is important to mention that a specific algorithm was proposed in order to realise a possible reconstruction of the ways micro-geometry from the variable friction torque component