Non-destructive experimental technique to determine ball contact load in rolling machine elements

Abstract

Rolling machine elements, such as ball bearings, ball screws, or guiding systems are commonly used in diverse industrial applications. These components typically assume uniform load distribution among the balls or rely on analytical expressions. However, experimental load distribution measurement remains a challenge. This research work proposes a non-destructive experimental technique designed to determine ball contact load. The method uses painted surfaces to visualize the contact area under each rolling element, combined with an analytical formulation that modifies Hertz’s original contact equations to account for the influence of the painted layer thickness. Analytical results are compared with experimental tests on flat and curved surfaces. The results show a good agreement between the proposed painted surface formulation and measured contact areas.