Dynamic model of ball bearings with internal clearance and waviness

In this paper, a general dynamic model is presented for studying the dynamic properties of rotor system supported by ball bearings under the effects of both internal clearance and bearing running surface waviness. The ball bearing model includes the high-speed effects of ball centrifugal force and gyroscopic moment. The cage speed is considered a time-variation parameter related with the orbital speed of balls. Numerical results of this research are in good agreement with prior authors’ experimental researches and already existing models. Then the model is employed to investigate the effects of clearance, waviness, preload and radial force on the nonlinear stability and vibration behavior of a rotor bearing system at high speed. It is shown that the clearance, axial preload and radial force play a significant role in affecting the system stability. The effect of outer race waviness on cage speed variation is more considerable than that of inner race and ball waviness.