Theoretical Analysis and Experiment of the High Speed Ceramic Rolling Bearing Equivalent Stiffness

Ceramic bearings are widely used in the high speed machine,especially in the micro or small turbine engines.The bearing stiffness has a considerable influence on the dynamic characteristics of a rotor-bearing system.There were some databases of slide bearing dynamic characteristics.Rolling bearing stiffness is usually estimated empirically and it is simplified as a constant stiffness element.This method often causes large error.The primary factors that influence the rolling bearing equivalent stiffness were analyzed and a method for the calculation of rolling bearing equivalent stiffness was proposed.A test rig was designed for measuring the equivalent stiffness of ceramic bearings.The theoretical and experimental results agree well.