Predictive Dynamic Model of a Deep Groove Ball Bearing With a Flexible Outer Ring

An explicit dynamic model of a deep groove ball bearing under a radial load is proposed. All components are treated as rigid bodies whereas the bearing outer ring flexibility is taken into account using fixed interface component mode synthesis (CMS). The classical lubricated Hertzian contact theory is used to calculate elastic deflections and non-linear contact forces. The dynamic loading of the outer ring interface nodes is ensured using C²-continuous rational cubic splines. A Runge-Kutta-Felhberg 4th/5th order integration scheme is used to solve the dynamic equilibrium of all components. Time and frequency domain analyses are then carried out to investigate the dynamic behaviour of the ball bearing. The accuracy of these works is validated by comparison with the results of an analytical model and a model based on finite elements proposed in prior researchs.