Fluid Flow Analysis for Friction Torque around Rolling Element in Ball Bearings

Abstract

Ball bearings (e.g., deep-groove, angular-contact, and roller bearings) support loads in a rotor system and provide lubrication between the shaft and housing. The deep-groove ball bearings used in a turbopump do not differ significantly from angular-contact ball bearings or the bearings found in other applications. Deep-groove ball bearings consist of rolling elements, an inner raceway, an outer raceway, and a retainer to guide the rolling elements. In ball bearings, the resistive (churning or drag) forces and torques acting on the rolling elements and raceways are affected by the fluid flow rate and direction, as well as the rotational speed. These churning and drag forces and torques affect the internal dissipation or power losses into the bearing, which become very significant for high-speed applications. This study numerically investigated the characteristics of the flow conditions for deep-groove ball bearings, with a particular focus on the friction distribution on the rolling elements. A simple analytical model of the fluid flow inside a ball bearing was developed using a computational analysis, and the flow characteristics at high rotational speeds are presented.