An indirect approach to investigating the dynamics of a structure containing ball bearings

This study introduces an integrated approach to the transmission of bearing vibrations in a generalized sense where the bearing is presented as a three-dimensional joint-model. A specially manufactured device and a corresponding analytical model are presented in order to compare experimental and numerical methods for investigating bearing transmission and bearing identification. Based on a multi-degree-of-freedom dynamic analysis, a predefined three-dimensional model of the bearing is used in a frequency domain synthesis with analytical and experimental modal analyses and FEM updating in order to obtain the systemʹs overall dynamic properties. Such an approach separates the model of the bearing and its investigation from the remaining linear part of the whole system, which speeds up the computation and broadens the investigationʹs capabilities. A bearing-identification algorithm, using a perturbation approach with frequency response sensitivities and correlation analysis, is proposed, together with the required frequency response functionʹs measurements and identification results.