Drag Power Loss Investigation In Cylindrical Roller Bearings Using CFD Approach

AbstractIn high-speed rolling element bearings the drag forces can be prominent and it is demonstrated in this investigation that the classical models may not be appropriate for estimating correctly this power loss contribution. A modification of the models is thus proposed including the usual drag forces formulation relying upon drag coefficient to be evaluated from a numerical CFD approach. A three-dimensional approach that considers both the rings and the cylinders ends seems the only adequate approach to be used since a two-dimensional approach predicts a too low drag coefficient value. When using the former computed drag coefficient for the evaluation of the total power losses high values of oil volume fraction must be employed to recover the measured power losses.