Wear analysis of rolling bearing contact surfaces based on finite element method

Abstract Wear leads to the roughening of bearing surfaces, increased internal clearances, decreased rotational precision, and amplified vibration and noise, ultimately causing the bearing to fail to meet specified performance criteria. This study employs the quasi-static analysis method to examine bearing sliding behavior. Based on the Archard wear model and Hertz contact theory, a computational model for wear depth in lubricated conditions is established for rolling ball bearings, accounting for both the rolling and sliding of the rolling elements. The distribution law of load and wear coefficient along the raceway circumference are analyzed, along with the characteristics of stress and sliding velocity in the contact region. The study investigates the impact of rotational speed, load, surface roughness, and raceway curvature coefficient on the wear coefficient, wear depth, and minimum oil film thickness. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis is conducted on the parameters of the wear depth model. Finite element analysis, utilizing ANSYS Workbench, is employed to study the evolution of surface wear on the raceway of deep groove ball bearings and explore the dynamic relationship between contact stress and wear depth. These findings offer important theoretical guidance for the design, selection, and maintenance of rolling bearings.