The Prediction of Contact Pressure–Induced Film Thickness Decay in Starved Lubricated Rolling Bearings

Under starved conditions the thickness and distribution of the lubricant film in an elastohydrodynamically lubricated (EHL) contact is directly related to the distribution of lubricant on the track in the inlet to the contact. In starved lubricated rolling bearings this lubricant distribution is determined by many effects. The authors have developed a model to predict the oil lost from the track induced by EHL pressure with no replenishment. A complete bearing is modeled with multiple rolling element EHL contacts and with the applied load to the rolling elements varying along the circumference of the bearing. Results of the oil layer thickness on the track are presented for a ball bearing and a spherical roller bearing for different bearing loads and rotational speeds. The predicted layer thickness decay rate for a ball bearing is significantly larger than for a spherical roller bearing and the predicted effect of the bearing load on the decay rate is small compared to the effect of the rotational speed. The predicted decay periods due to the contact pressure effect are small compared to the observed (grease) life of bearings. The results show that a bearing cannot sustain an adequate layer of oil on the running track unless significant replenishment takes place.