Modeling and parametric analysis of double-row tapered roller bearings considering the roller skew

Abstract

Roller skew can cause pressure concentration, excessive heat generation, and early failure of the double-row tapered roller bearing (DTRB). Therefore, accurately obtaining the roller skew angle is essential for a comprehensive analysis of the mechanical performance of DTRBs. This paper presents a quasi-static model of DTRB that considers roller skew to investigate the effects of pre-deformation, angular misalignment, and rotating speed on the internal load, contact pressure distribution, fatigue life, and stiffness. The results indicate that contact load and pressure distribution between the roller raceway and roller end-rib are influenced by the aforementioned factors, which further affect the bearing's fatigue life and stiffness. As the inner ring misalignment increases, both the roller tilt angle and skew angle increase, leading to a sharp rise of up to 20% in contact pressure. Moreover, increasing the roller skew angle changes the pressure distribution, intensifying stress in the central region of the inner ring–roller contact as well as shifting the stress concentration toward the end of the roller–outer raceway contact.