Some Limitations in Applying Classical EHD Film Thickness Formulas to a High-Speed Bearing

Elastohydrodynamic film thickness was measured for a 20-mm ball bearing using the capacitance technique. The bearing was thrust loaded to 90, 448, and 778 N (20, 100, and 175 lb). The corresponding maximum stresses on the inner race were 1.28, 2.09, and 2.45 GPa (185,000, 303,000, and 356,000 psi). Test speeds ranged from 400 to 14,000 rpm. Film thickness measurements were taken with four different lubricants: (a) synthetic paraffinic, (b) synthetic paraffinic with additives, (c) neopentylpolyol (tetra) ester meeting MIL-L-23699A specifications, and (d) synthetic cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon traction fluid. The test bearing was mist lubricated. Test temperatures were 300, 338, and 393 K. The measured results were compared to theoretical predictions using the formulae of Grubin, Archard and Cowking, Dowson and Higginson, and Hamrock and Dowson. There was good agreement with theory at low dimensionless speed, but the film was much smaller than theory predicts at higher speeds. This was due to kinematic starvation and inlet shear heating effects. Comparisons with Chiu’s theory on starvation and Cheng’s theory on inlet shear heating were made.