SQUEALING OF CYLINDRICAL ROLLER BEARING

This paper describes an investigation into squealing sounds which occur in a large-sized cylindrical bearing under two testing conditions, a single bearing and a bearing fitted into an annular housing by an interference. Squeal of 4-6 kHz for the single bearing and two kinds of squeals of approximately 5 kHz and 6 kHz for the bearing fitted into the housing occur at the shaft speeds of 1 000-1 600 rpm. These squeal frequencies are not equal to the natural frequencies of the in-plane vibration of the outer race or of the housing including the outer race. The natural frequencies of the in-plane vibration of the outer race coupled with the stationary rollers were calculated, replacing the roller/outer race contact in the loading zone by a spring and considering the friction between the roller and the outer race. As a result, the squeal frequencies approximately agree with the natural frequencies, which indicate an oscillatory instability, and also are close to the natural frequencies of a single roller with a spring.