Effect of mounting fits on the performance of rolling bearings (analytical study)

Rolling bearings are considered as the inspection monitor for the performance of machines. There are many parameters affecting the performance of this type of bearings, including type of rolling bearings, applied loads (radial or axial), type of lubricating medium, type of mounting fits between the bearing and its shaft (and housing) and the temperature of the environment. The study of this paper has focused on investigating the effect of mounting fits on bearing performance. The study concentrates on determining the effective clearance between the various elements of bearing (inner ring, outer ring, and rolling elements). The importance of the effective clearance lies in its ability to affect the load distribution throughout the bearing rings and subsequently, affecting its operational life. It can also affect the noise and vibration raised from the bearing elements during operation. Moreover, it can change the motion of the rolling elements in the bearing from rolling to sliding which increases the friction in the bearing. The study has also manipulated the effect of temperature differences between the bearing rings on its performance and concluded that it is influenced only by values of high temperature differences. The results showed also that it is better to make the fit between the inner rings with their shafts be of more tight (press fit) than the fit between the outer rings and their housings (loose transition fit) such that at high values of temperature difference between the bearing components.