Introduction to Selection of bearing size:

System Approach and Bearing Reliability

SKF General Catalog 6000

Summary
Selection of bearing size is as simple or complex as desired by the user. Simple
approaches will give general idea of how long a bearing can be expected to last in an
application. Machine builders and reliability professionals with an interest in optimizing
reliability can use more sophisticated tools for bearing life prediction.

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SKF Reliability Systems GC6000-2-2
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Introduction to Selection of bearing size: System Approach and Bearing Reliability

2009 SKF Group
Selection of bearing size is as simple or
complex as desired by the user. Simple
approaches will give general idea of how
long a bearing can be expected to last in
an application. Machine builders and
reliability professionals with an interest in
optimizing reliability can use more
sophisticated tools for bearing life
prediction.
There are two fundamental application
differences that dominate bearing size
selection: dynamic or static operation.
Dynamic operation is more common, for
example, electric motors, pumps,
gearboxes and conveyor systems. For
overhead cranes and other machines
suffering shock loads, such as mining
equipment, the static load carrying
capacity should be used to determine the
minimum bearing size required.
The main difference in the two calculation
methods (dynamic versus static load
ratings) is in how a bearing might be
expected to fail. In the dynamic load
rating methods, bearings typically fail
from the inside out. That is to say, the
rolling elements repeatedly overrolling
and stressing the bearing material
eventually cause a fatigue failure. This is
similar to bending a wire repeatedly until
it breaks.
Static load carrying capacity is based
instead on the concept of permanent
plastic deformation of the bearing
material, or simply put, a dent in the
bearing that remains after the load is
removed. This dent could occur from a
Introduction to Selection of bearing size: System Approach and Bearing Reliability
2009 SKF Group
shock load, or simply applying a stationary
load, such as lifting an object with a crane
when the bearing is stationary.
The history of selecting bearing size using
dynamic load ratings began about the
time of the industrial revolution: late
1800s and early 1900s. Plain bearings
(without rolling elements) were in wide
use, but, as machines demanded faster
speeds, energy usage began to become a
factor. Rolling element bearings were a
logical development, displacing plain
bearings as soon technically practicable.
At first, there was limited knowledge
about how to select the right size rolling
element bearing. Does the replacement
bearing need to be larger or smaller than
the equivalent plain bearing? There was
no good science to answer the question
until Lundberg and Palmgren began their
work on Life theory for bearings in the
1920s. The theories were developed
mathematically and empirically using data
collected at SKF laboratories since 1911.
The first life law they discovered for
bearing life, called Basic Rating Life is
still widely used for initial estimates of
bearing life. Using this life prediction
method gives a good starting point for
sizing the bearing to an application. If
loads and speeds can be determined with
some accuracy, the right size bearing can
be selected for the machine.
As our knowledge of bearing life
developed, it became clear that lubrication
and materials played a strong role in
bearing life. Poor lubrication film
thickness leads to reduced bearing life.
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But how much lubricant is needed? And of
what type mineral oil or some other
kind? Are heavy oils always better?
Adjusted life theory was the result: users
could now make better decisions about
making changes to their lubricants (oil
viscosity and temperatures) and the
expected outcomes. Adjusted life theory
also explained how cleaner, stronger steel
increases bearing life. Also added to the
life calculation was a modification to help
choose the right bearing using different
probabilities of failure. For example,
safety-related aircraft applications require
a lower probability of failure, and the
standard life calculation is modified as a
result.
The new life theory established a
benchmark for sizing bearings, and was
accepted internationally after World War
II. Since that time, SKF has continued to
enhance and deepen our understanding of
bearing life. In the 1980s and 1990s SKF
began work on New Life Theory, which
was published and adopted as an ISO
Standard. Additional modifications and
amendments have led to the latest
version: ISO 281:2007, available from
www.iso.org. This latest version of life
theory takes into account the effects of
solid particle contamination. It also
explains why some lightly loaded bearings
can achieve infinite life.
Life theories are excellent for sizing
bearings to fit a particular application.
Rolling element bearings can be thought
of as a system of many parts, working
Introduction to Selection of bearing size: System Approach and Bearing Reliability
2009 SKF Group
together to achieve the ultimate service
life of the application. The life theories are
useful if the bearing fails in a
predictable way, generally, from fatigue
of the bearing materials.
Some applications dont play by the rules:
fluid contamination, misalignment,
operational deflection, extremes or
temperature and other conditions can
severely degrade service life in real-world
conditions. In these cases, SKF has a wide
array of Knowledge Engineering resources
ready to help. To assist with Bearing
damage analysis, SKF provides literature
(), Online tools (Bearing Detective) , Online
and Live courses to help diagnose the
causes of bearing damage. Advanced
analysis tools such as the SKF Interactive
Engineering Catalog, SKF Bearing
BEACON, BEAST and Orpheus (to be
discussed in a future article) are essential
in understanding advanced bearing
dynamics and operation. SKF also
provides Engineering Consultancy
Services to assist with selecting and sizing
bearings properly. Contact the SKF
Applications Engineering Service in your
area for assistance.
Next in our series will be the SKF General
Catalogue: Principles of Bearing selection
and Application: Selection of Bearing Size:
Using the Life Equations: Load Ratings
and Life. Well dive deeper into the
methods used for sizing bearings.
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