Dr. Eng. Bruno Robert Mose from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology has jointly published a paper on structural stress analysis in the prestigious journal – Nature. The paper titled Numerical analysis of stresses on angular contact ball bearing under the static loading with respect to race thickness and housing stiffness, offers new insights on bearing performance.

Dr. Bruno and colleagues: Dong-Kil Shin (Yeungnam University) and Jeong-Hwan Nam (Dongyang University) discovered that race thickness can significantly affect the bearing performance in mechanical systems due to high stresses induced at the contact zones. According to the researchers, thin races were found to be more predisposed to failure compared with thick races.

Using a 3-dimensional model of the angular contact ball bearing and also visualized by photoelastic experimental hybrid measurements, the researchers discovered that large deformations and stresses occurred on the outer race with thickness of 3.3 mm while race with 9.9 mm thickness registered small deformations and stresses.

Dr. Bruno says their research findings can easily find application in industries where bearings are utilised such as high speed train systems, aircraft gas turbines as well as nuclear reactors.

“Structures usually fail due to excessive stress concentrations in critical regions of engineering components. In the case of bearings, stress can easily lead to spall growth and eventually form a network of cracks, leading to failure and prolonged periods of shutdowns. This is undesirable as it comes with costly consequences,” Dr. Bruno said.

The open access publication is available on the link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-66479-y#Abs1