Simulation of High-Speed Ball Bearings with MSC/ADAMS

High-speed-rotors can be supported by angular ball bearings. Therefore, the nonlinear, time-variant bearing reaction forces are modeled for high revolution rates in this approach. Assuming local deformations, bearing stiffness is modeled with Hertzian contact between balls and races. Centrifugal forces on balls and rings are considered. Under consideration of clearance ratio the contact angle changes due to bearing load, rotational frequency and tilting angle of the inner ring. Since the contact angle determines the direction of reaction force and moment, it is possible to analyze the non-planar inner ring movement. To be able to attach further machinery parts easily to the bearing model, this approach has been done with the multi-body simulation software package MSC/ADAMS. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)