Optimal design for outer rings of self-lubricating spherical plain bearings based on virtual orthogonal experiments

Abstract

To improve the product quality of self-lubricating spherical plain bearing, a new shape of the outer rings for spherical plain bearings was optimally designed based on virtual orthogonal experiments using finite element software ABAQUS. The depth inclined end wall, together with the length of annular wall, the depth of annular concavity, the outer ring thickness, and the edge radius were taken as the main structural parameters in the analysis. For the evaluation parameters, the maximum bearing clearance, the maximum contact pressure, the maximum extrusion load, and the maximum equivalent plastic strain were considered. The optimal structure parameter combination was identified based on the intuitive comprehensive balance analysis method. The simulation results demonstrated much improvement for the forming quality by using a new type of the outer ring, which was optimized by the virtual orthogonal experiments. The new type of the outer ring could be used to the forming process in assembling the spherical plain bearings.