Particle entrapment and indentation process in rolling bearings

Abstract

In this paper, a complete engineering model for particle entrapment in rolling bearings and consequences in raceway indentations is presented. The attention is focussed on the conditions for particle entrapment once the particles are in contact with the two rolling surfaces. After the entrapment, the model follows the particle trajectory within the contact. The particle deformation is then calculated and finally an elastic-plastic contact model is applied to simulate the eventual raceway indentation. Laboratory experiments with a single contact device as well as full bearing tests were performed to validate the models. The comparisons between model and experiments show good agreement in the number and type of indentations.