Investigation on skidding behavior of a lubricated rolling bearing with fluid–solid-heat coupling effect

Skidding phenomenon is a critical cause of abnormal vibration, noise, and temperature rise of lubricated rolling bearings. It is affected by various factors such as the structure size, lubrication medium, thermal properties, and service conditions. Owing to the limited influence factors, the skidding mechanism of the lubricated rolling bearing under the fluid–solid-heat coupling effect is not well understood. Therefore, a fluid–solid-heat coupled dynamics model of the lubricated rolling bearing based on the dynamic and thermodynamic equations is developed in this study using the lumped parameter method and thermal network method. The time-varying geometrical parameter of the components, time-varying kinematic viscosity and density of the lubricant, and temperature raise and distribution of the bearing during the operation process are involved in this model, which can significantly affect the system parameters such as the equivalent nonlinear contact stiffness, friction coefficient, viscous drag, radial and circumferential clearances, and so on. To verify the accuracy of the proposed model, the cage slipping velocity and outer ring temperature rise are compared between simulation results and test data, respectively. The influence of the rotating speed of the inner ring and radial load on the temperature raise and skidding phenomenon is analyzed in detail. The results indicate that skidding behaviors and internal dynamic interactions are intensified under the thermal effect. Therefore, improving the heat dissipation efficiency of the bearing can alleviate skidding, especially under light load and high-speed conditions. It should be noted that the rotating speed of the ring and radial load are the primary factors affecting bearing temperature rise and skidding phenomenon.