Parametric Testing and Heat Generation Modeling of 133-mm Bore Ball Bearings: Part II—Results with Silicon Nitride Rolling Elements

Abstract

133 mm bore ball bearings with silicon nitride rolling elements were tested at the following conditions: speeds from 1.5 to 2.6 × 10⁶ DN; thrust loads from 13,350 to 53,400 N; oil delivery temperatures from 66 to 121°C; and oil flow rates from 7.3 to 11.4 L/min. The resulting bearing outer race temperature, oil exit temperature, power loss determined from shaft torque, and power loss determined from oil temperature rise are reported. The experimental data are fitted to an empirical equation to predict power loss. The results are compared to the same bearings fitted with metal rolling elements discussed in Part I.

KEY WORDS:

• Rolling Element Bearing
• Silicon Nitride
• Hybrid Bearing
• Heat Generation
• Power Loss
• Gas Turbine Engine

ACKOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors express their thanks to Douglas Eisentraut, David Gerardi, and Hitesh Trivedi of UES Inc. for experimental support. Thanks to Lt. Timothy N. Baldwin for support with the ANSYS analyses. Thanks to the Air Force Research Laboratory for funding and permission to publish this research and thanks to the Air Force Research Laboratory DoD Supercomputing Resource Center.

Review led by Daniel Nelias