MPEN 421: Design of Machine Elements II: Lecturer: Eng. M.

Swaleh Tel: 0721 868 758

TOPIC 2: BEARING AND BEARING SELECTION

Sliding Bearing
A bearing is a means of positioning one part with respect to another part in such a way
that relative motion is possible. Any substance placed between the surfaces which
reduce friction is a lubricant. In addition to this a lubricant reduces wear takes away
heat generated, fills up the cavities to give a smooth surface act as a shock absorber.
Classification:
1. Depending upon the direction of load to be supported. The bearings under this group
are classified as:
(a) Radial bearings, and (b) Thrust bearings.
In radial bearings, the load acts perpendicular to the direction of motion of the moving
element as shown in Fig. 2.1 (a) and (b).
In thrust bearings, the load acts along the axis of rotation as shown in Fig.2.1 (c).
Note: These bearings may move in either of the directions as shown in Fig. 2.1.

Fig. 2.1

2. Depending upon the nature of contact. The bearings under this group are classified as
:
(a) Sliding contact bearings, and (b) Rolling contact bearings.
In sliding contact bearings, as shown in Fig. 2.2 (a), the sliding takes place along the
surfaces of contact between the moving element and the fixed element. The sliding
contact bearings are also known as plain bearings.

Fig. 2.2

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MPEN 421: Design of Machine Elements II: Lecturer: Eng. M. Swaleh Tel: 0721 868 758

In rolling contact bearings, as shown in Fig. 2.2 (b), the steel balls or rollers, are
interposed between the moving and fixed elements. The balls offer rolling friction at
two points for each ball or roller.

ROLLING BEARINGS

These are also called antifriction bearings although friction is always present.
Advantages of ball and roller bearings as compared to journal bearings
1. Have low stating friction i.e. not much larger than operating friction at usual speeds.
2. These bearings can carry combined radial and axial loads without any additional
complications.
3. Occupy less axial space but more diametrical space.
4. Require little lubricant and maintenance.
5. Relatively accurate shaft alignment can be obtained.
6. Heavy momentary overloads can be taken.

Disadvantages
1. Noisier than normal
2. No provision is possible to adjust the bearings due to wear.
3. Have limited life and hence design is based in fatigue.
4. Expensive but easy to install.

Bearing Types

1. Ball Bearings

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MPEN 421: Design of Machine Elements II: Lecturer: Eng. M. Swaleh Tel: 0721 868 758

2. Roller Bearings

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MPEN 421: Design of Machine Elements II: Lecturer: Eng. M. Swaleh Tel: 0721 868 758

The following factors should be kept in mind while selecting the bearing of particular
type.

a) Deep groove ball bearings, thrust bearings, roller bearings and angular types can
take up axial loads.
b) Tapes roller bearings take axial loads in one direction only hence thrust must be
used in pairs.
c) Seals may be provided on one side or both sides to make the bearing self
lubricated for its lifespan.
d) Curvature of groove in the race is different to the radius of the ball so as to
provide point contact.
e) Self aligning bearings are designed to take up slight misalignment in the shafts.
f) Balls in between the races can be put by two methods.

- Keeping the inner race eccentric to the outer race then balls are inserted.
- Additional balls may be inserted by employing filling notch in each of the
races.

g) Balls, rollers, races, are finished to very fine tolerances.

h) For needle bearings the outer and inner races can be substituted by the housing
and shaft respectively.
i) For a given inside diameter of the bearing four series are available, these are :

- extra light
- Light
- Medium
- heavy

j) Angular contact bearings are sometimes used in pairs and are given initial or
preloading to take up all the clearances.
k) Wider inner race bearings are seldom used in general design but are commonly used
in complete units such as flanged houses.

For a given bearing the following data is generally available:-

a) Basic dimensions of the bearing.
b) Static basic capacity in kg or Newton designated as C o .
c) Dynamic basic capacity in kg or N designated as C .
d) Maximum permissible speed in rpm.

Data that should be known for bearing selection

a) Radial load
b) Thrust load

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MPEN 421: Design of Machine Elements II: Lecturer: Eng. M. Swaleh Tel: 0721 868 758

c) Speed of bearing in rpm.

d) Desired life of bearing
e) Conditions of loading (service factor, inner race or outer race rotating)
f) Type of bearing to be used.
Equivalent Bearing Loads, Pe

Pe  X .V .Pr  Y .Pa ……………………. (i)

Where Pe  equivalent bearing load.
Pr  Radial load acting on the bearing
Pa  Axial or thrust load on the bearing
X  Modifying factor for radial load
Y  Modifying factor for axial load
V  Rotation factor
= 1 when inner race rotates
= 1.25 when outer race rotates

Tables are provided by manufacturers to calculate the values of X and Y.

Bearing Life is given by:
60nLn
L ……………………………………(ii)
1000000
Where L  life of bearing (desired) in million of revolutions
Ln  Nominal life in hours (expected life)
n  Speed of the bearing in rpm.
The load Pe and life L need to be modified to basic dynamic capacity C and life of 1
million revolutions. The relation used is:

 L  p ……………………………………………. (iii)
C 1

Pe
For C corresponding to one million revolutions, C corresponding to any other life L c :

1
C  L p
  ………………………………………… (iii)
Pe  Lc 

Values of p  3 for ball bearings

p  10 for roller bearings
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MPEN 421: Design of Machine Elements II: Lecturer: Eng. M. Swaleh Tel: 0721 868 758

Selections of bearing from the catalogue

From equations (i), (ii), (iii) the value of C is calculated knowing the type of bearing one
can look into the catalogue to choose the bearing whose dynamic basic capacity shall be
more than calculated value of C and fulfils the conditions of inside diameter
(corresponding to shaft diameter).
The speed of the shaft should be less than the permissible speed of the bearing.

Design for cyclic loads and speeds

In certain applications ball bearings are subjects to cyclic loads and speeds as an
example:
Now consider a ball bearing subjected to variable loads. Let W1, W2, W3 etc., be the
loads on the bearing for successive n1, n2, n3 etc., number of revolutions respectively.
If the bearing is operated exclusively at the constant load W1, then its life is given by

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MPEN 421: Design of Machine Elements II: Lecturer: Eng. M. Swaleh Tel: 0721 868 758