Vehicle Tribology

Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and

1
Wear in Bearings
 Vehicle Tribology
Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
2 Bearings
 Sliding contact bearings
 Introduction to the Reynold’s equation
 Hydrostatic bearings
 Squeeze film lubrication bearings
 Thrust bearings
 Journal bearings
 Geometrical configuration and pressure
generation
 Mechanism and load transmission
 Thermo-flow consideration
 Design of load bearing capacity
 Self lubricated bearings
 Classification
 Design considerations
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
Bearings
3
Sliding contact bearings
Bearings are machine elements which are used to support a
rotating member namely, a shaft. They transmit the load from a
rotating member to a stationary member known as frame or
housing.
They permit relative motion of two members in one or two
directions with minimum friction, and also prevent the motion in
the direction of the applied load.
The bearings are classified broadly into two categories based on
the type of contact they have between the rotating and the
stationary member
 Sliding contact
 Rolling contact
In sliding-contact bearings, also known as sliding or plain
bearings or bushings, the load is transmitted between moving
parts by sliding contact.
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
Bearings
4 Sliding contact bearings
Sliding bearings can be lubricated with a film of air, water, oil,
grease, but generally lube oil.
Classification
1. Based on type of load carried
2. Based on type of lubrication
3. Based on lubrication mechanism
Bearing classification based on type of lubrication
The type of lubrication means the extent to which the
contacting surfaces are separated in a shaft bearing
combination. This classification includes
1. Thick film lubrication
2. Thin film lubrication
3. Boundary lubrication
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
Bearings
5 Types of bearings

Radial Bearing
These bearings carry radial load
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
Bearings
6 Types of bearings

Radial Thrust Bearing

Single Collar Thrust Bearing
These bearings carry both
These bearings carry axial load
radial and thrust loads
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
Bearings
7
Sliding contact bearings

Thick film lubrication Thin film lubrication Boundary lubrication

 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
Bearings
8 Sliding contact bearings
Sliding Contact Bearings - Advantages
1. The design of the bearing and housing is simple.
2. Occupy less radial space and are more compact.
3. They are generally cost less.
4. Design of shaft is simple.
5. Operate more silently.
6. Can absorb shock better load capacity.
7. Ideally suited for medium and high speed operation.

Some disadvantages are:

1. Frictional power loss is more.
2. Required good attention to lubrication.
3. Normally designed to carry radial load or axial load only.
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
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9
Introduction to the Reynolds equation
 The basic equation used in the analysis of fluid film
lubrication is called the Reynolds equation which was first
presented by Reynolds in 1886 which was formed by
combining the equation of motion and the equation of
continuity.
 Reynolds equation is a partial differential equation which
describes the flow of a thin lubricant film between two
surfaces. It is derived from the Navier-Stokes equations
and is one of the fundamental equations of the classical
lubrication theory.
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
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Introduction to the Reynolds equation
 A necessary condition for pressure to develop in a thin film of
fluid is that the gradient and slope of the velocity profile must
vary across the thickness of the film.
 Three methods are commonly used for establishing a variable
slope:
 (i) Fluid from a pump is directed to a space at the centre of the
bearing, developing pressure and forcing fluid to flow outward
through the narrow space between the parallel surfaces. This is
called a hydrostatic lubrication or an externally pressurized
lubrication;
 (ii) One surface rapidly moves normal to the other, with viscous
resistance to the displacement of the oil. This is a squeeze-film
lubrication;
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
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Introduction to the Reynolds equation
 (iii) By positioning one surface so that it is slightly offset to
the other, then by relative sliding motion of the surfaces,
lubricant is dragged into the converging space between
them. It is a wedge-film lubrication and the type generally
meant when hydrodynamic lubrication is required.

Hydrodynamic journal bearing Hydrostatic journal bearing

 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
Bearings
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Hydrostatic Bearing
 Lubricant from a constant displacement pump is forced into a
central recess and then flows out wards between the bearing
surfaces, developing pressure and separation and returning to
sump for circulation.
The surface may be cylindrical, spherical or flat with circular or
rectangular boundaries.
Hydrostatic bearings use an external pump to supply pressurized
fluid to the bearing:
 Metered flow to each side of the bearing creates a pressure
differential proportional to the displacement.
 Load capacity and stiffness can be very high.
 They require the expense of a clean pressure supply system.
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
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Hydrodynamic Bearing

Hydrodynamic bearings operate based on the principle that

lubricant fluids are dragged between bodies as they move past
each other, so the rotating shaft acts like a pump.
 The pressure gradient is limited, and also the load capacity
and stiffness also less.
 They are the simplest of bearings.
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
Bearings
14 Hydrostatic Bearings
Applied loads
 Large surface area allows for high load capacity.
 Very stable and virtually insensitive to crashes.
Accuracy
 Axial: limited only by the drive system.
 Lateral: limited by the support.
Preload
 Most designs are essentially preloaded.
Stiffness
 Many times greater than other components in the machine.
 Dynamic stiffness is very high due to squeeze film damping.
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
Bearings
15 Hydrostatic Bearings
Damping capability
 Excellent normal to direction of motion, due to squeeze film
damping.
 Bearing area, gap, and stiffness must be considered to
maximize squeeze film damping.
Friction
 Zero static starting friction.
 Dynamic friction depends on gap and fluid viscosity.
Thermal performance
 Fluid flowing at pressure released to atmospheric pressure
shears and generates heat equal to pump power.
 A cooler is often needed to control fluid temperature.
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
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16 Hydrostatic Bearings

Environmental sensitivity
 Very sensitive to dirt. Works better in dust free environment.
 Since the fluid has to flow past a tiny gap (a capillary or an
orifice), it can clog.
 A particle lodged in a small gap can score the bearing or the
rail.
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
Bearings
17 Squeeze film lubrication bearings
 Bearings which are subjected to dynamic loads experience
constantly changing thickness of the oil film.
 Also as a result of fluctuating loads, the lubricant is alternately
squeezed out and drawn back into the bearing.
 Together with the oil supplied through correctly located
grooves, a parabolic velocity profile with changing slope is
obtained.
 The load carrying capacity is developed without the sliding
motion of the film surfaces.
 The higher the velocity, the greater is the force developed.
 The squeeze effect may occur on surfaces of all shapes,
including shapes that are flat and cylindrical.
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
Bearings
18 Thrust ball bearings

Definition
Thrust ball bearings have a contact angle of 90° and are
designed to withstand axial loads only.
Single-direction ball thrust bearings withstand the axial load of a
shaft in only one direction.
Thrust bearings are made of detachable elements: shaft-ring,
housing-ring, ball-cage assembly.
Thrust bearings are equipped with a pressed steel cage.
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
Bearings
19 Thrust ball bearings

Ball and roller thrust bearings

 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
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20
Thrust ball bearings

 Support the axial thrust of both horizontal as well as vertical

shafts

 Functions are to prevent the shaft from drifting in the axial

direction and to transfer thrust loads applied on the shaft

 Vertical thrust bearings also need to support the weight of the

shaft and any components attached to it

 The moving surface exerted against a thrust bearing may be

the area of the end of the shaft or the area of a collar attached at
any point to the shaft
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
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Thrust ball bearings

Capabilities
Can withstand axial loads only in one direction, and generally
used at low or medium speeds.
Misalignment
As the performance of a thrust bearing is related to the
distribution of the load over the entire circumference, it is
important to have virtually no misalignment between the shaft-
ring and the housing-ring (misalignment angle less than 0.03°).
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
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22
Journal Bearing
It is simply a block of cast iron with a hole for the shaft
providing running fit.
Oil hole is drilled at the top for lubrication.
There is no provision for adjustment on account of wear.
The shaft must be passed into the bearing axially i.e.
endwise.
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
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Journal Bearing

Material Used For Journal Bearings

1. Babbit metal
• Tin base (Tin 90 %, copper 4.5 %, lead 0.5 % ) and
• Lead base (Lead 84 % Tin 6 %,Antimony 9.5 %copper 0.5)
2. Bronze
3. Cast iron
4. Silver
5. Non metallic bearings
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
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Journal Bearing

Advantages Of Journal Bearing

 It can handle high loads and velocities (less metal to
metal contact due to oil film ).
 Long lasting and durable.
 Quiet and smooth running of engine.
 Low cost
 Suitable only for low temperatures and speed
 Requires large supply of lubrication
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
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Self Lubricated Bearings
 Two classes of self-lubricating material are widely used in
general engineering applications. They are plastics and metals
containing solid lubricant fillers.
 Self-lubricating materials are most useful either as dry bearings
or as bearings in marginally lubricated applications.
 The contact between the bearing and its mating surface
generates its own lubricating film.
 The film may be composed of solids transferred from the
bearing surface; or frictional heat and capillary action may draw
a lubricant out of a porous matrix. These two processes may be
at work at the same time.
 Most self-lubricating bearings, especially polymer-based, wear
rapidly during the operation.
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
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Self-lubricated Bearings
By sacrificing some mechanical properties like hardness and
strength, one can get the structure with lesser density and the
pores in the material can be used as oil reservoirs.
Thus a constant supply of lubricant by itself is maintained.
When the bearings get heated up while in use, the oil expands
and flows to the bearing surface because of the greater
coefficient of expansion of the oil compared to that of the metal
and also because of the existence of the differential
hydrodynamic pressure in the oil film between journal and
bearing.
On cooling it is drawn back into the pores by capillary action.
Thus the routine oiling is eliminated
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
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Classification of self-lubricating bearings
1. Homogeneous metal composites
2. Metal-backed laminates
3. Homogeneous non-metallic composites
4. Filament wound

Design considerations

There are a number of situations where self-lubricating and pre-

lubricated bearings of some kind should be considered by a
designer.
The need to reduce maintenance or to increase reliability is
frequently encountered in practice.
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
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Self Lubricated bearings

Self-lubricating sintered bronze bearings are widely used in

automotive components like starters, oil and water pumps, wind
shield wipers, home appliances like clothes dryers, sewing
machines, washing machines, food mixers and refrigerators.
Further, these are also used in tape recorders, electric clocks,
electric fans, packaging machines and textile machines. These
are most popular in applications involving high velocities and light
loads. These are not useful under conditions of impact or fatigue
loading.
Even though the self lubricating action is obtained from porosity
of the bearings, the porosity reduces the thermal conductivity so
that allowable maximum frictional losses are lower than those of
non-porous bearings.
 Bearing Types, and Concept of Friction and Wear in
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Self Lubricated Bearings
If bearings are inaccessible in an equipment then self-lubrication
is used, also equipment in remote places.
By replacing metal bearings with self-lubricating ones, substantial
savings possible if load and other factors are favorable.
Similarly, self-lubrication can improve the service life of equipment
where users are not aware of requirement, as for instance,
consumer appliances.
Self-lubricating bearings can retain their load carrying capacity
even at high temperatures.
They can operate where rolling element bearings fail due to
fatigue, and where conventional lubricants oxidize rapidly.
 Many self-lubricating polymers resist corrosion very well.