The Influence of Mounting Compliance and Operating Conditions on the Radial Stiffness of Ball Bearings: Analytic and Test Results

Abstract

Abstract Ball bearing stiffness is significantly affected by internal clearance as well as the nature of applied loads and bearing ring mounting compliance. Since their stiffnesses are key to rotor critical speeds, it is important to obtain the most accurate possible radial stiffness prediction for shaft bearings during the machine design analysis process. Quasi-static analysis of spring-preloaded ball bearings predicted reduced radial stiffness when the outer ring is permitted to tilt rather than being assumed restrained from angular deflection. This effect was confirmed experimentally by observing resonant frequencies of a rotor supported on ball bearings of varied internal clearance, mounted with and without spring preloading. Analytic predictions of bearing stiffness are given, and test results presented for comparison.