Simulation of the load reduction process of high-speed angular contact ball bearing with coupling model of dynamics and thermo-elastohydrodynamic lubrication

The transient process can be accurately simulated using a dynamic ball bearing model. This paper proposed a dynamic model including thermo-elastohydrodynamic lubrication (TEHL) to investigate high-speed angular contact ball bearings. In this model, TEHL considering the spinning and the non-Newtonian effect was used to calculate the contact force and the friction force. The results showed that the gyroscopic moment of the ball increased in conjunction with a higher load when the axial load remained constant. Furthermore, the sliding speed and film temperature increased significantly in conjunction with a sudden decrease in the axial load from 800 N to 400 N in 3 ms due to an abrupt decline in the friction moment, while the gyroscopic moment was delayed. •A dynamic model of high-speed angular contact ball bearing fully coupled with TEHL is proposed.•The gyroscopic moment of the ball will increase with the increase of the axial load.•When the axial load suddenly decreases a lot, the sliding speed and the film temperature increases.•The high drag force makes the skidding more serious.