Experimental determination of damage to bearing raceways in rolling rotational connections

A purpose-built test stand was manufactured for experimental verification of the carrying capacity and service life of large-sized rolling bearings. In the test stand operation of a large-sized rolling rotational connection, the changes in the rotational resistance in a rolling connection bearing, changes in stress on the upper structure of a rolliong connection, and changes in microdisplacements on bearing raceways were observed. Observations were carried out in unfavorable testing conditions, created by simulating flatness of the mounting surface of the static bearing ring suppporting structure. It caused an increase in contact forces along certain parts of the bearing raceway. Permanent deformations and formation of damage on the bearing raceway were monitored through measurements of subsurface deformations of displacements of material below the raceway of the static bearing ring, by measuring the stress distributuon over the static supporting structure of the connection, and by measuring rotational resistance in the test positions. All these three independent measurements recorded secondary damage to the bearing ring.