A Novel Method to Compute the Elastic Approach of a Hollow Roller

The elastic approach of a w roller compressed by two flat plates is a basic building block in roller bearing design. According to the theory of contact mechanics, a finite element (FE) model was established in this paper to study the contact problem of a hollow roller. Research results show that deformation of the hollow roller due to contact has a strong relationship with roller's hollowness ratio. A new equation for calculating the contact deformation of a hollow roller is proposed. In addition, it is found that the accuracy of existing calculation method for bending deformation is also worth studying, and a new equation for calculating bending deformation of a hollow roller is established by data fitting. The experimental results are also presented to support the results of this work.