Simulation and Experimental Validation of Tapered Roller Bearing Vibration Induced by Geometrical Imperfection on Cup Raceway

A three dimensional non-linear vibration model of tapered roller bearings was developed based on an in-house dynamic bearing model (DBM), which simulates the motion of bearing components and their interactions using Hertzian contact, traction, and hydrodynamic/ elastohydrodynamic lubrication models. The vibration model can simulate bearings with distributed and localized geometrical imperfections on their cup raceways, cone raceways, and roller bodies. This paper focuses on the influence of localized cup raceway imperfections on bearing vibration. Three levels of localized defects were intentionally created on cup raceways and quantified using a surface profile gauge. The quantified defects on actual test bearings were used as inputs to the vibration model. The corresponding test bearings were evaluated with a high-precision bearing vibration test machine. Two different bearing designs were used in the study. The simulation and test data were analyzed and compared, and it was found that the simulation results agreed well with the test data.