BEARINGS

Dodi Mulyadi
Introduction
A bearing is a machine element, designed to
 Reduce friction
 Carry load
 Guide moving part

What is Friction
Friction is resistance to movement
 It opposes sliding
 It assists rotation
Hystory
Bearing history - a never-ending story

1794

1869

1100 B.C.
40 A.D.

3500 B.C.
1995
Hystory
 Invention of wheel
 Wheel rotates on
axle
 Wear Plate + Rollers
 Inner ring + Outer
ring + Rollers
 With introduction of
cage Rolling Bearing
was created
Classification of Bearings
1. Depending upon the direction of load to be supported.
(a) Radial bearings, the load acts perpendicular to the direction
of motion of the moving element
(b) Thrust bearings, the load acts along the axis of rotation

(a) (b)
Classification of Bearings
1. Depending upon the direction of load to be supported.
Classification of Bearings
2. Depending upon the nature of contact.
(a) Sliding contact bearings, the sliding takes place along the
surfaces of contact between the moving element and the
fixed element. The sliding contact bearings are also known as
plain bearings.
(b) Rolling contact bearings, the steel balls or rollers, are
interposed between the moving and fixed elements

(a) (b)
Classification of Bearings
2. Depending upon the nature of contact.
Classification of Bearings
SLIDING CONTACT BEARINGS

Dodi Mulyadi
Sliding Contact Bearings
Advantages and disadvantages
Materials Properties
1. Compressive strength.
2. Fatigue strength.
3. Comformability. It is the ability of the bearing material to
ccommodate shaft deflections and bearing inaccuracies by plastic
deformation (or creep) without excessive wear and heating.
4. Embeddability. It is the ability of bearing material to accommodate
(or embed) small particles of dust, grit etc., without scoring the
material of the journal.
5. Bondability. Many high capacity bearings are made by bonding one
or more thin layers of a bearing material to a high strength steel
shell. Thus, the strength of the bond i.e. bondability is an important
consideration in selecting bearing material.
Materials Properties
6. Corrosion resistance.
7. Thermal conductivity.
8. Thermal expansion. The bearing material should be of low
coefficient of thermal expansion, so that when the bearing operates
over a wide range of temperature, there is no undue change in the
clearance.
Materials Properties
Materials commonly used
1. Babbit metal.

The tin base and lead base babbits are widely used as a bearing material,
because they satisfy most requirements for general applications.
The babbits are recommended where the maximum bearing pressure
(on projected area) is not over 7 to 14 N/mm2.
When applied in automobiles, the babbit is generally used as a thin layer,
0.05 mm to 0.15 mm thick, bonded to an insert or steel shell.

The composition of the babbit metals is as follows :

Tin base babbits : Tin 90% ; Copper 4.5% ; Antimony 5% ; Lead 0.5%.
Lead base babbits : Lead 84% ; Tin 6% ; Anitmony 9.5% ; Copper 0.5%.
Materials commonly used
2. Bronzes.

The bronzes (alloys of copper, tin and zinc) are generally used in the
form of machined bushes pressed into the shell.
The bush may be in one or two pieces.
The bronzes commonly used for bearing material are gun metal and
phosphor bronzes.
The gun metal (Copper 88% ; Tin 10% ; Zinc 2%) is used for high grade
bearings subjected to high pressures (not more than 10 N/mm2 of
projected area) and high speeds.

The phosphor bronze (Copper 80% ; Tin 10% ; Lead 9% ; Phosphorus 1%)
is used for bearings subjected to very high pressures (not more than 14
N/mm2 of projected area) and speeds.
Materials commonly used
3. Cast iron.

The cast iron bearings are usually used with steel journals.
Such type of bearings are fairly successful where lubrication is adequate
and the pressure is limited to 3.5 N/mm2 and speed to 40 metres per
minute.

4. Silver.

The silver and silver lead bearings are mostly used in aircraft engines
where the fatigue strength is the most important consideration.
Materials commonly used
5. Non-metallic bearings.

The various non-metallic bearings are made of carbon-graphite, rubber,

wood and plastics.

 The carbon-graphite bearings are self lubricating, dimensionally

stable over a wide range of operating conditions, chemically inert and
can operate at higher temperatures than other bearings. Such type of
bearings are used in food processing and other equipment where
contamination by oil or grease must be prohibited.
Materials commonly used
5. Non-metallic bearings.

 The soft rubber bearings are used with water or other low viscosity
lubricants, particularly where sand or other large particles are
present. In addition to the high degree of embeddability and
comformability, the rubber bearings are excellent for absorbing shock
loads and vibrations. The rubber bearings are used mainly on marine
propeller shafts, hydraulic turbines and pumps.

 The wood bearings are used in many applications where low cost,
cleanliness, inattention to lubrication and anti-seizing are important.
Materials commonly used
5. Non-metallic bearings.

 The commonly used plastic material for bearings is Nylon and Teflon.
These materials have many characteristics desirable in bearing
materials and both can be used dry i.e. as a zero film bearing.

 The Nylon is stronger, harder and more resistant to abrasive wear. It

is used for applications in which these properties are important e.g.
elevator bearings, cams in telephone dials etc.
Materials commonly used
5. Non-metallic bearings.

 The Teflon is rapidly replacing Nylon as a wear surface or liner for

journal and other sliding bearings because of the following
properties:
a) It has lower coefficient of friction, about 0.04 (dry) as compared
to 0.15 for Nylon
b) It can be used at higher temperatures up to about 315°C as
compared to 120°C for Nylon
c) It is dimensionally stable because it does not absorb moisture
d) It is practically chemically inert.
Lubrication on Journal Bearing
1. Thick film bearings.
The thick film bearings are those in which the working surfaces are
completely separated from each other by the lubricant. Such type of
bearings are also called as hydrodynamic lubricated bearings.

2. Thin film bearings.

The thin film bearings are those in which, although lubricant is
present, the working surfaces partially contact each other atleast
part of the time. Such type of bearings are also called boundary
lubricated bearings.
Lubrication on Journal Bearing
3. Zero film bearings.
The zero film bearings are those which operate without any lubricant
present.

4. Hydrostatic or externally pressurized lubricated bearings.

The hydrostatic bearings are those which can support steady loads
without any relative motion between the journal and the bearing.
This is achieved by forcing externally pressurized lubricant between
the members.
Hydrodynamic Bearing
It is a lubricated journal bearing that uses fluid, liquid or gas
lubricants to separate the moving surfaces completely without
an external pressure supply, required pressure to support
journal inside the bearing is generated from wedging action
inside the journal
Hydrodynamic Bearing
Load is transferred through a lubricant in sliding contact
Hydrostatic Bearing
It is also known as externally pressurized lubrication in which
the pressurized lubricant pumped into clearance of bearing and
journal hence it can support higher loads even at stationary
conditions with very low starting friction resulting very low tear
an wear. But they are very expensive
Terms used
Let
W = Load on the bearing
μ = Coefficient of friction
Z = Absolute viscosity of the lubricant
N = Speed of the journal
p = Bearing pressure on the projected bearing area
D = Diameter of the bearing
d = Diameter of the journal
l = Length of the bearing
c = Diametral clearance = D - d
Design Procedure for Journal Bearing
Design Procedure for Journal Bearing
Design Procedure for Journal Bearing
7. Determine the heat generated, Qg = μ.W.V

8. Determine the heat dissipated,

Qd = C.A (tb – ta)
where C = Heat dissipation coefficient
A = Projected area of the bearing
tb = Temperature of the bearing surface
ta = Temperature of the surrounding air

tb – ta = ½ (to – ta)

to = temperature of the oil film

Design Procedure for Journal Bearing
8. Determine the heat dissipated,
Qd = C.A (tb – ta)
where C = Heat dissipation coefficient

The average values of C (in W/m2/°C), may be taken as follows :

For unventilated bearings (Still air) = 140 to 420 W/m2/°C
For well ventilated bearings = 490 to 1400 W/m2/°C
Design Procedure for Journal Bearing
9. Determine the thermal equilibrium to see that the heat dissipated
becomes at least equal to the heat generated. In case the heat
generated is more than the heat dissipated then either the bearing
is redesigned or it is artificially cooled.

 The amount of artificial cooling required = Qg – Qd

 The mass of the oil to remove the heat generated

Qt = m.S.t J/s or watts
where m = Mass of the oil in kg / s,
S = Specific heat of the oil. Its value may be taken as
1840 to 2100 J / kg / °C,
t = Difference between outlet and inlet temperature
of the oil in °C.
Design Procedure for Journal Bearing
Notes :
1. For well designed bearing, the operating temperature of the oil film
should not be more than 60°C
2. In case the temperature of the oil film is higher, then the bearing is
cooled by circulating water through coils built in the bearing
Design Procedure for Journal Bearing
Design Procedure for Journal Bearing
Design Procedure for Journal Bearing
Design Procedure for Journal Bearing
Design Procedure for Journal Bearing
Example:
Design a journal bearing for a centrifugal pump from the following
data

a) Load on the journal = 20 000 N

b) Speed of the journal = 900 r.p.m.
c) Type of oil is SAE 10
d) Temperature of oil = 55°C
e) Ambient temperature of oil = 15.5°C
f) Calculate also mass of the lubricating oil required for artificial
cooling, if rise of temperature of oil be limited to 10°C
g) Heat dissipation coefficient (assume) = 1232 W/m2/°C.
Design Procedure for Journal Bearing
Solution.

Given:
 W = 20 000 N
 N = 900 r.p.m.
 Oil = SAE10
 to = 55°C
 ta = 15.5°C
 t = 10°C
 C = 1232 W/m2/°C
Design Procedure for Journal Bearing
Solution.
Design Procedure for Journal Bearing
Solution.
3. Z = 0.017 kg/m-s (refer Table, SAE 10, Temperature of oil = 55°C)
Design Procedure for Journal Bearing
Solution.
5. From Table 26.3, we find that for centrifugal pumps, the clearance
ratio (c/d) = 0.0013

6. Coefficient of friction
Design Procedure for Journal Bearing
Solution.
7. Heat generated,

8. Determine the heat dissipated,

Qd = C.A (tb – ta) = C.l.d . ½ (to – ta)

Qd = 1232 x 0.16 x 0.1 x ½ (55° – 15.5°)

Qd = 389.3 W
Design Procedure for Journal Bearing
Solution.
9. We see Qg > Qd which indicates that the bearing is warming up.
Therefore, either the bearing should be redesigned bearing should
be cooled artificially.

Amount of artificial cooling required:

= Heat generated – Heat dissipated
= Qg – Qd
= 480.7 – 389.3 = 91.4 W

Heat taken away by the oil:

Qt = m.S.t
= m × 1900 × 10
= 19 000m W
[Specific heat of oil (S) = 1840 to 2100 J/kg/°C]
Design Procedure for Journal Bearing
Solution.
Heat taken away by the oil = Amount of artificial cooling required

19 000 m = 91.4
∴ m = 91.4 / 19 000
m = 0.0048 kg / s
m = 0.288 kg / min
Footstep or Pivot Bearings
In a foot step or pivot bearing, the loaded shaft is vertical and the
end of the shaft rests within the bearing.
Footstep or Pivot Bearings
Let
W = Load transmitted over the bearing surface,
R = Radius of the bearing surface (or shaft),
A = Cross-sectional area of the bearing surface,
p = Bearing pressure per unit area of the bearing surface
between rubbing surfaces,
μ = Coefficient of friction, and
N = Speed of the shaft in r.p.m.

When the pressure in uniformly The total frictional torque,

distributed over the bearing area,
Then:
Footstep or Pivot Bearings
Power lost in friction,

When the counter-boring of the shaft is considered, then the bearing

pressure,

where r = Radius of counter-bore,

and the total frictional torque,

Footstep or Pivot Bearings
The allowable bearing pressure (p) for the footstep bearings may be
taken as follows :
a) For rubbing speeds (V) from 15 to 60 m/min, the bearing pressure
should be such that p.V ≤ 42, when p is in N/mm2 and V in m/min.
b) For rubbing speeds over 60 m/min., the pressure should not
exceed 0.7 N/mm2.
c) For intermittent service, the bearing pressure may be taken as 10.5
N/mm2.
d) For very slow speeds, the bearing pressure may be taken as high as
14 N/mm2.

The coefficient of friction for the footstep bearing may be taken as

0.015.
Collar Bearings
 The shaft continues through the bearing.
 The shaft may be vertical or horizontal with single collar or many
collars.
Collar Bearings
Let

W = Load transmitted over the bearing surface,

n = Number of collars,
R = Outer radius of the collar,
r = Inner radius of the collar,
A = Cross-sectional area of the bearing surface = n π (R2 – r2),
p = Bearing pressure per unit area of the bearing surface,
between rubbing surfaces,
μ = Coefficient of friction, and
N = Speed of the shaft in r.p.m.
Collar Bearings
When the pressure is uniformly
distributed over the bearing
surface, then bearing pressure,
The coefficient of friction for
the collar bearings may be
taken as 0.03 to 0.05.
The total frictional torque,
The bearing pressure for a
single collar and water cooled
multi-collared bearings may be
taken same as for footstep
bearings.
Power lost in friction,
Thank You