Enhancement of roller bearing fatigue life by innovative production processes
Industrial Lubrication and Tribology
ISSN: 0036-8792
Article publication date: 3 April 2019
Issue publication date: 22 October 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The efficient and economical use of natural resources is a big issue. Machine elements with a rolling contact are highly relevant because of their wide application in technical systems and a large production quantity. Innovative hard machining can reduce the friction and increase the fatigue strength of rolling element bearings. The purpose of this study is to focus on the surface properties of such parts.
Design/methodology/approach
A new model to predict bearing fatigue life is presented which takes compressive residual stresses in the bearing subsurface area into consideration. The investigated bearings were machined by the processes of hard turning, hard turning with subsequent deep rolling and a combination of hard turning and deep rolling (turn-rolling) in one process step. Changes in the residual stress state during bearing fatigue tests were investigated and the influence of residual stresses on the bearings fatigue life was researched.
Findings
Both combinations including the deep rolling process decrease the surface roughness and induce compressive residual stresses. As a result, the L10 fatigue life of roller bearings was increased by the factor of 2.5. Owing to the developed models, this effect can be considered within the design process.
Originality/value
In the context of the research program “Resource efficient Machine Elements (SPP1551),” machining processes of bearings were investigated regarding the bearing fatigue life. By inducing beneficial residual stresses on the bearings’ subsurface area, the fatigue life could be increased. Thus higher resource efficiency was achieved. To increase the productivity, a combination of hard turning and deep rolling was evaluated.
Keywords
Citation
Pape, F., Maiss, O., Denkena, B. and Poll, G. (2019), "Enhancement of roller bearing fatigue life by innovative production processes", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 71 No. 8, pp. 1003-1006. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-07-2018-0254
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited