Influence of mounting fits on the effective clearances and stresses in ball bearings

Bearings are considered among the most important elements of power transmission in machines. The main purpose of using bearings is to carry or support rotating shafts in machines to reduce friction and transmit the applied loads from the shafts to the housings. They are classified as either sliding or rolling bearings. Rolling bearings are more efficient, and therefore much more widely used in various engineering applications than other bearing types due to their lower friction, lower maintenance, and more indication signals before failure. There are several parameters that affect the performance of rolling bearings, including type of mounting fits between the bearing and its shaft (and housing), type of lubricating medium, applied loads and types (radial or axial), and the temperature of the environment. The research conducted in this paper has focused on investigating the effect of the mounting fits between the bearing and both the shaft and housing on the bearing performance. The study has examined the effect of different mounting fits on the deformations and stresses induced in the bearing elements and the vibration raised in the bearing during its operation. High stresses and/or high vibration may cause a rapid failure for the bearing, thus, decreasing its working life below the expected or rating life of the bearings.