Comprehensive stiffness analysis of the cylindrical roller bearing for aircraft engines considering the radial clearance

Purpose The rotor system supported by the cylindrical roller bearings is widely used in various fields such as aviation, space and machinery due to its importance. In the study of the dynamic characteristics of the cylindrical roller bearings, it is important to accurately calculate the stiffness of the cylindrical roller bearings. The stiffness of the cylindrical roller bearings is very important in the analysis of the vibration characteristics of the rotor system. Therefore, in this paper, the method of creating a comprehensive stiffness model of the cylindrical roller bearing is mentioned. The purpose of this study is to improve the dynamic stability of the rotor system supported by the cylindrical roller bearing by accurately establishing the comprehensive stiffness calculation model of the cylindrical roller bearings. Design/methodology/approach In consideration of the radial clearance of the cylindrical roller bearing, the radial load acting on the cylindrical roller bearing was derived, and based on this, a model for calculating the Hertz contact stiffness of the cylindrical roller bearing was created. Based on the load considering the radial clearance, an oil film stiffness model of the cylindrical roller bearing was created under the elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) theory. Then, the comprehensive stiffness was calculated by combining Hertz contact stiffness and the oil film stiffness of the cylindrical roller bearing, and the dynamic parameters are calculated by using the MATLAB program. Findings When the radial clearance of the cylindrical roller bearing is considered, the comprehensive stiffness is larger than when the radial clearance is not taken into account, and the radial clearance of the cylindrical roller bearing is an important factor that directly affects the comprehensive stiffness of the cylindrical roller bearing. Originality/value In this paper, based on Hertz contact theory and the EHL theory, the authors investigated the method of creating a comprehensive stiffness model of the cylindrical roller bearing considering the radial clearance. These results will contribute to the theoretical basis for studying the mechanics of cylindrical roller bearings and optimizing their structures, and they will provide an important theoretical basis for analyzing the dynamic characteristics of the rotor system supported by the cylindrical roller bearing.