Abstract
This paper presents a high-speed performance analysis of ball bearings with ceramic balls under thrust loads. The sliding velocity profiles between a ball and raceways were obtained by the 3-D quasi-dynamic equations of motion including both centrifugal force and gyroscopic moment derived by vector matrix algebra. The friction at the contact areas was obtained by the Bair-Winer's non-Newtonian rheological model and the Hamrock-Dowson's central film thickness in EHL analysis. The nonlinear equations were solved by the Newton-Raphson method and the underrelaxation iterative method. The friction torques and ball behaviors with various loads, ball materials, and contact angles were predicted by this model. It was shown that the friction torque was sensitive to thrust load and contact angle, and that the friction torque and the pitch angle of the bearing with ceramic balls are smaller than those of the bearing with steel balls.
