Analysis of a Grease-Lubricated Roller Bearing under Arctic Conditions

• Published in: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology
• Main Authors: Östensen, J O, Åström, H, Höglund, E
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publications 1995
• Subjects: Arctic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1243/pime_proc_1995_209_427_02; https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1243/PIME_PROC_1995_209_427_02

This paper summarizes measurements of starting torque and motion of the rollers in a roller bearing during start-up at a temperature of − 30°C. The bearing was lubricated with three different greases and the tests were carried out after a running-in procedure at + 20 °C. The results were compared with measurements obtained at +20°C and with results from one base oil at +20°C. A model for the roller motion was also built and simulations of the roller motion were compared with the measurements. Independent of temperature and lubricant the rollers rolled in the loaded zone and slipped, more or less, in the unloaded zone. The degree of sliding in the unloaded zone was found to be governed mainly by the local lubricant distribution and the position of the roller in the cage pocket. Some differences are also seen in the slide-roll ratio between the lubricants. A roller diameter difference of 1.3 pm gave a significant difference in roller motion, with the slightly thinner roller slides more in the unloaded zone of the bearing.