Author:

Keywords:

Science & Technology, Technology, Engineering, Multidisciplinary, Engineering, Mechanical, Materials Science, Multidisciplinary, Materials Science, Characterization & Testing, Engineering, Materials Science, rolling element bearings, test rig, dynamic loading, lifetime prediction

Abstract:

This paper introduces a novel bearing test rig. The test rig allows multi-axial static and dynamic loading of a rolling element bearing. Different types and sizes of bearings can be mounted and loaded as if built into a real machine. The test rig will be used to analyse the effect of external dynamic loads on the lifetime of these bearings. The aim to apply a dynamic force on the bearing complicates the design considerably. As the measurements should not be influenced by the dynamics of the test rig, all components should be resonance free in the full range of excitation. Therefore, the test rig is developed using FEM software and validated using modal analyses. It is proved that the bearings can be excited in the range from 25 to 440 Hz, free from resonances of the test rig.