Effect of Differential Hardness on Static Load Capacity of AISI 52100 Bearing Steel

Abstract

Static Load Capacity as defined by Palmgren is the load (stress) applied to a bearing that results in an indentation greater than 0.0001 times the diameter of the rolling element. The effect of hardness on the Static Load Capacity of AISI 52100 bearing steel heat treated to six different hardnesses was investigated. Indentation, depth, diameter, volume, and surface area were measured by the white light interferometer. A total of 468 hardness ball–plate combination tests were conducted. For a given plate (race) hardness, the Static Load Capacity was dependent on plate (race) hardness and independent of mating ball hardness from Rockwell C 56 to 66. For plate (race) hardness between Rockwell C 56 and 60, the Static Load Capacity was relatively constant. At Rockwell C hardness between 60 and 61, the Static Load Capacity increased and then rapidly decreased at a plate hardness of Rockwell C 66, below that value obtained at Rockwell C 56. Experimental results obtained for Static Load Capacity using the Palmgren criteria correlated with the finite element analysis for ball-on-plate indentation but not with Hertz theory. The Static Load Capacity based on Yhland for ball bearings was equal to a maximum Hertz stress of 3.71 GPa (538 ksi) at a ball-race conformity of 52%. This value is 12% lower than that specified in the ISO and ANSI/ABMA Bearing Standards. The manufacturers’ Static Load Rating can be reduced from 4% to 7% for ball bearings and from 8% to 25% for roller bearings.