Tech Note 2, Iss.

1
1 / 11 SKF(UK)Ltd - Racing Unit

Calculation of wheel bearings loads

Factors necessary for bearing load calculation in wheel applications vary
considerably. To obtain an exact expression for the resultant bearing loads
is consequently impossible. Values based on experience with previous
bearing arrangements are usually used for new designs.
The calculation for front and rear hub bearing arrangements are normally
similar; no consideration is taken of the fact that one pair of wheels is
driven. Only in special circumstances is account taken of the power
transmitted.
The following survey is based on a hub bearing arrangement, incorporating
two taper roller bearings as shown in Fig. 1, but the method of calculation
also applies to other bearing arrangements having two pressure centres, for
example, using two single row angular contact ball bearings or one double
row.
The static hub load K for a
loaded vehicle is obtained from
' ' '
K K K =
where
'
K is the force between
tyre and road (half axle load)
' '
K is the weight of one wheel
When rough operating conditions
have to be considered, the static
load K is increased by 20 per
cent.
The effect of the camber angle
(in Fig. 1, the angle of the line I-
II with the horizontal plane) may
usually be ignored, as well as the
influence of the driving and rolling resistance forces, which are small
compared to the vertical forced caused by gravity. However, where the
camber angle is considerable the axial component of the static load K must
be taken into account.
In addition to the static load it is necessary to consider other loads, both
radial and axial, which are due, for instance, to road surface irregularities.
The resultant bearing loads obviously depend on wheel diameter and the
Tech Note 2, Iss. 1
2 / 11 SKF(UK)Ltd - Racing Unit
distance between the bearings and are taken into account by an additional
force fK.
On a straight route the following radial bearing loads should thus be
considered, the axial loads ignored.
1 . 2
) 1 (
2 1 1 II
2 1 1 I
)
`

=
+ =
fK K F
fK K F
r
r



Indexes I and II denote the inner and outer bearing respectively and with
reference to Fig. 1, l a /
1
= and l R
H
/
2
= . In the second equation the plus
sign applies when 1
1
< and the minus sign when 1
1
> . The value
recommended for the coefficient f is 0.05 for private cars and commercial
vehicles.

When cornering a centrifugal force
d
K kg acts at the centre of gravity of the
vehicle; see Fig. 2a. Its magnitude is obtained from
r
v
G
d
K
2
127
1
=
where:
G is the maximum weight of the vehicle less the weight of the wheel, kg
v is the speed of the vehicle in km/h
r is the radius of the curve in the road, m
Tech Note 2, Iss. 1
3 / 11 SKF(UK)Ltd - Racing Unit
Fig. 2a also shows the effect the forces G and
d
K have on the front and rear
wheels.

The forces on the front wheel and distances referred to below are given in
Fig. 2b. Equilibrium is obtained when
2 . 2 ) 2 1 (
) 2 1 (
)

= +
=
+ =
d ai ae
G
K
b
h
i
G
K
b
h
e
xK K K
K K
K K
d
d

When the vehicle is about to overturn, the forces K
i
and K
ai
on the inside
wheel are zero, which gives K
e
= 2 K, and, since
2
xG
K = then K K
h
b
ae
=
Equation 2.2 may also be applied to the rear wheels if factor x is replaced
by (1 x).
If conditions of friction are assumed to be the same for the outside and the
inside wheel the axial forces will be
3 . 2
) 2 1 (
) 2 1 (

=
+ =
K K
K K
G
K
b
h
G
K
ai
G
K
b
h
G
K
ae
d d
d d

Using the radial and axial forces obtained in Equation 2.2 and 2.3 the
bearing loads when negotiating corners can be calculated as follows. For the
outside wheel hub bearings
Tech Note 2, Iss. 1
4 / 11 SKF(UK)Ltd - Racing Unit
4 . 2 ) 1 (
2 1 2 II
2 1 2 I

=
=
+ =
ae a
ae e r
ae e r
K K
K K F
K K F



Where K
ae
(direction I-II, case 2b or 2c, from 'Axial loading of taper roller
bearings' table in taper bearing section of SKF General Catalogue.
For the inside wheel hub bearing
5 . 2 ) 1 (
2 1 3 II
2 1 3 I

=
+ =
=
ai a
ai i r
ai i r
K K
K K F
K K F



Where K
ai
(direction II-I, case 1b or 1c, from 'Axial loading of taper roller
bearings' table in taper bearing section of SKF General Catalogue.
Normally it is assumed the Kd/G = 0,25, which applies when for instance
driving at a speed of 40 km/h round a curve having a radius of 50 m or at
20 km/h round a curve having a radius of 12 m. If, in addition, h/b = 0,5
Equations 2.2 and 2.3 give
6 . 2
19 . 0
31 . 0
75 . 0
25 . 1

=
=
=
=
K K
K K
K K
K K
ai
ae
i
e

The equivalent bearing loads for bearing I when driving straight ahead (P
I1
),
round a left-hand curve (P
I2
) and round a right-hand curve (P
I3
) are used to
determine the mean equivalent load P
Im
. If it is assumed that 90 per cent of
the route is straight, 5 per cent curved to the left and 5 percent curved to
the right, therefore
[ ] 7 . 2 05 . 0 05 . 0 90 . 0
3
3
3 I
3
2 I
3
1 I I
N P P P P
m
+ + =
For bearing II the loads are calculated similarly.
Finally, if the rolling radius of the wheels is R
H
mm, the bearing life will be
[ ] 8 . 2 ) ( 2 km R L
p
P
C
H s
=
This simplified wheel calculation is offered as a guide for bearing selection.
SKF employ advanced calculation programs to more accurately determine
bearing life and performance.
Tech Note 2, Iss. 1
5 / 11 SKF(UK)Ltd - Racing Unit
Example 1
A truck front wheel hub using a pair of taper roller bearings:-
Inboard, 32310: C
I
=161000N, e
I
=0.35, X
I
=0.4, Y
I
=1.7
Outboard, 32307: C
II
=89700N, e
II
=0.31, X
II
=0.4, Y
II
=1.9
Static hub load, K = 20000N
Wheel radius, R
H
= 400mm
Distance between pressure centres, l = 100mm
Load line, a = 90mm (from outboard pressure centre towards car centre)
Thus 9 . 0
1
= =
l
a
& 4
2
= =
l
R
H

Assuming 25 . 0 =
G
K
d
& 5 . 0 =
b
h

Calculate the lives of the bearings.

When driving straight ahead - Equation 2.1 gives
N F
N F
rII
rI
6000 ) 20000 05 . 0 4 ( ) 20000 ) 9 . 0 1 ((
22000 ) 20000 05 . 0 4 ( ) 20000 9 . 0 (
1
1
= + =
= + =

Referring to 'Axial loading of taper roller bearings' table from the General
Catalogue,
II
rII
I
rI
Y
F
Y
F
1 1
> and 0 =
a
K therefore case 1a applies, so the internal
axial load becomes
1
1
1
6470
7 . 1
22000 05 . 0 5 . 0
aII
I
rI
aI
F N
Y
F
F = =

= =
Hence ) ( 29 . 0
22000
6470
1
1
I
rI
aI
e
F
F
< = =
and ) ( 08 . 1
6000
6470
1
1
II
rII
aII
e
F
F
> = =
The equivalent bearing loads become
N F Y F X P
N F P
aII II rII II II
rI I
14690 ) 6470 9 . 1 ( ) 6000 4 . 0 (
22000
1 1 1
1 1
= + = + =
= =


When cornering - outside wheel - Equation 2.6 gives
Tech Note 2, Iss. 1
6 / 11 SKF(UK)Ltd - Racing Unit

N K
N K
ae
e
6250 20000 31 . 0
25000 20000 25 . 1
= =
= =

From Equations 2.4
N F
N F
rII
rI
22500 ) ( 6250 4 25000 ) 9 . 0 1 (
47500 6250 4 25000 9 . 0
2
2
= =
= + =

Referring to 'Axial loading of taper roller bearings' table from the General
Catalogue, case 2c applies since
II
rII
I
rI
Y
F
Y
F
2 2
> and
ae
II
rII
I
rI
K
Y
F
Y
F
> =
|
|
.
|

\
|
8050 5 . 0
2 2

Consequently
N K F F
N
Y
F
F
ae aI aII
I
rI
aI
7720 6250 13970
13970
7 . 1
47500 5 . 0 5 . 0
2 2
2
2
= = =
=

=

Hence ) ( 29 . 0
47500
13970
2
2
I
rI
aI
e
F
F
< = =
and ) ( 34 . 0
22500
7720
2
2
II
rII
aII
e
F
F
> = =
The following equivalent loads are obtained
N F Y F X P
N F P
aII II rII II II
rI I
23670 ) 7720 9 . 1 ( ) 22500 4 . 0 (
47500
2 2 2
2 2
= + = + =
= =


When cornering - inside wheel - Equation 2.6 gives
N K
N K
ai
i
3750 20000 19 . 0
15000 20000 75 . 0
= =
= =

From Equations 2.5
N F
N F
rII
rI
16500 3750 4 15000 ) 9 . 0 1 (
1500 ) ( 3750 4 15000 9 . 0
3
3
= =
= + =

Referring to 'Axial loading of taper roller bearings' table from the General
Catalogue, case 1c applies since
Tech Note 2, Iss. 1
7 / 11 SKF(UK)Ltd - Racing Unit
I
rI
II
rII
Y
F
Y
F
3 3
> and
ai
I
rI
II
rII
K
Y
F
Y
F
> =
|
|
.
|

\
|
3900 5 . 0
3 3


Consequently
N K F F
N
Y
F
F
ai aII aI
II
rII
aII
590 3750 4340
4340
9 . 1
16500 5 . 0 5 . 0
3 3
3
3
= = =
=

=

Hence ) ( 39 . 0
1500
590
3
3
I
rI
aI
e
F
F
> = =
and ) ( 26 . 0
16500
4340
3
3
II
rII
aII
e
F
F
< = =
The following equivalent loads are obtained
N F P
N F Y F X P
rII II
aI II rI II I
16500
1600 ) 590 7 . 1 ( ) 1500 4 . 0 (
3 3
3 3 3
= =
= + = + =


Summary of equivalent dynamic loads in N
Inboard Brg I Outboard Brg II
Straight ahead driving 22000 14690
Cornering, Outer Wheel 47500 23670
Cornering, Inner Wheel 1600 16500

The mean equivalent bearing load is determined using equation 2.7
N P
N P
I
15590 16500 05 . 0 23670 05 . 0 14690 9 . 0
25090 1600 05 . 0 47500 05 . 0 22000 9 . 0
3 3 3 3
Im
3 3 3 3
Im
= + + =
= + + =

Tech Note 2, Iss. 1
8 / 11 SKF(UK)Ltd - Racing Unit
The corresponding bearing lives are
Km
P
C
R L
Km
P
C
R L
I
II
H II
I
H I
000 , 858
15590
89700
400 2 2
000 , 234 , 1
25090
161000
400 2 2
3
10
3
10
Im
3
10
3
10
Im
=
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
=
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
=




Example 2
A single seater racer car uses a double row angular contact bearing (HBU1).
This will be treated as 2 separate rows with the following data:-
Designation BA2B 633816
C
I
and C
II
rating = 27600 per row (44900N per unit)
e
I
, e
II
= 0.86, X
I
, X
II
= 0.38, Y
I
, Y
II
= 0.72
Static hub, K = 800N
Wheel radius, R
H
= 250mm
Distance between pressure centres, l = 51mm
Load line, a = 27mm (from outboard pressure centre towards car centre)
Distance from road to vehicle centre of gravity, h = 300mm
Track distance, b = 1800mm
Thus 53 . 0
1
= =
l
a
, 9 . 4
2
= =
l
R
H
& 167 . 0 =
b
h

Assuming 25 . 0 =
G
K
d

Calculate the lives of the bearings.

When driving straight ahead - Equation 2.1 gives
N F
N F
rII
rI
572 ) 800 05 . 0 9 . 4 ( ) 800 ) 53 . 0 1 ((
620 ) 800 05 . 0 9 . 4 ( ) 800 53 . 0 (
1
1
= + =
= + =

Referring to 'Axial loading of single row angular contact ball bearings' table
from the General Catalogue,
1 1 rII rI
F F > and 0 =
a
K therefore case 1a
applies and the internal axial load becomes
1 1 1
533 620 86 . 0
aII rI I aI
F N F e F = = = =
Tech Note 2, Iss. 1
9 / 11 SKF(UK)Ltd - Racing Unit
Hence ) ( 86 . 0
620
533
1
1
I
rI
aI
e
F
F
= = =
and ) ( 93 . 0
572
533
1
II
rII
aII
e
F
F
> = =
The equivalent bearing loads become
N F Y F X P
N F P
aII II rII II II
rI I
601 ) 533 72 . 0 ( ) 572 38 . 0 (
620
1 1 1
1 1
= + = + =
= =


When cornering - outside wheel - Equation 2.2 and 2.3 gives

( )
( ) N K
N K
ae
e
217 800 ) 25 . 0 167 . 0 2 ( 1 25 . 0
867 800 ) 25 . 0 167 . 0 2 ( 1
= + =
= + =

From Equations 2.4
N F
N F
rII
rI
656 ) ( 217 9 . 4 867 ) 53 . 0 1 (
1523 217 9 . 4 867 53 . 0
2
2
= =
= + =

Referring to 'Axial loading of single row angular contact ball bearings' table
from the General Catalogue, case 2c applies since
2 2 rII rI
F F > and ( )
ae rII rI
K F F > = 746 86 . 0
2 2

Consequently
N K F F
N F e F
ae aI aII
rI I aI
1093 217 1310
1310 1523 86 . 0
2 2
2 2
= = =
= = =

Hence ) ( 86 . 0
1523
1310
2
2
I
rI
aI
e
F
F
= = =
and ) ( 66 . 1
656
1093
2
2
II
rII
aII
e
F
F
> = =
The following equivalent loads are obtained
N F Y F X P
N F P
aII II rII II II
rI I
1036 ) 1093 72 . 0 ( ) 656 38 . 0 (
1523
2 2 2
2 2
= + = + =
= =


When cornering - inside wheel - Equation 2.2 and 2.3 gives
Tech Note 2, Iss. 1
10 / 11 SKF(UK)Ltd - Racing Unit
N K
N K
ai
i
183 800 )) 25 . 0 167 . 0 2 ( 1 ( 25 . 0
733 800 )) 25 . 0 167 . 0 2 ( 1 (
= =
= =

From Equations 2.5
N F
N F
rII
rI
1241 183 9 . 4 733 ) 53 . 0 1 (
508 ) ( 183 9 . 4 733 53 . 0
3
3
= + =
= =

Referring to 'Axial loading of single row angular contact ball bearings' table
from the General Catalogue, case 1c applies since
3 3 rI rII
F F > and ( )
ai rI rII
K F F > = 630 86 . 0
3 3

Consequently
N K F F
N F e F
ai aII aI
rII II aII
884 183 1067
1067 1241 86 . 0
3 3
3 3
= = =
= = =

Hence ) ( 74 . 1
508
884
3
3
I
rI
aI
e
F
F
> = =
and ) ( 86 . 0
1241
1067
3
3
II
rII
aII
e
F
F
= = =
The following equivalent loads are obtained
N F P
N F Y F X P
rII II
aI II rI II I
1214
830 ) 884 72 . 0 ( ) 508 38 . 0 (
3 3
3 3 3
= =
= + = + =


Summary of equivalent dynamic loads in N
Inboard Brg I Outboard Brg II
Straight ahead driving 620 601
Cornering, Outer Wheel 1523 1036
Cornering, Inner Wheel 830 1214

The mean equivalent bearing load is determined using equation 2.7
N P
N P
I
703 1214 05 . 0 1036 05 . 0 601 9 . 0
749 830 05 . 0 1523 05 . 0 620 9 . 0
3 3 3 3
Im
3 3 3 3
Im
= + + =
= + + =


The corresponding bearing lives are
Tech Note 2, Iss. 1
11 / 11 SKF(UK)Ltd - Racing Unit
Km
P
C
R L
Km
P
C
R L
I
II
H II
I
H I
000 , 302 , 95
703
27600
250 2 2
000 , 685 , 78
749
27600
250 2 2
3
3
Im
3
3
Im
=
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=
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Please contact the Racing Unit for more information: racing@skf.com.



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Every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this document but no
liability can be accepted for any loss or damage whether direct, indirect or consequential arising out of
the use of the information contained herein.