High-speed deep groove ball bearings based on response surface methodology sealing ring efficiency design

This study addresses the issue of grease leakage failure in seal rings of high-speed grease-lubricated deep groove ball bearings. It adopts a technical approach combining numerical simulation and intelligent algorithms to conduct efficiency enhancement design research. First, the state of the seal ring under high-speed bearing rotation is simulated using ANSYS finite element transient structural analysis. A parameterized finite element model for the seal ring’s transient structure is then established, and a Latin hypercube experimental matrix is constructed, incorporating key parameters such as oil-side lip angle, lip thickness, lip fillet radius, and interference fit. Subsequently, a second-order polynomial response surface model is employed to fit surrogate models for the system’s maximum contact stress and frictional torque. The NSGA-II multi-objective optimization algorithm is then applied to obtain the Pareto front solution set. Experimental verification demonstrates that, within the studied parameter range, the maximum contact stress first increases and then decreases with increasing oil-side lip angle, reaching a minimum value near 61°; it increases with increasing oil-side lip thickness and interference fit and decreases with increasing oil-side lip fillet radius. The frictional torque first increases and then decreases with increasing oil-side lip angle; it first decreases and then increases with increasing oil-side lip fillet radius, reaching a minimum value near 0.14 mm; and it increases with increasing oil-side lip thickness and interference fit. The optimized scheme ensures that the deviation of actual values from target values is controlled within ± 3%, meeting the design requirements. After the efficiency enhancement design of the seal ring, no significant grease leakage or water ingress occurs. The research results provide technical support for the efficiency enhancement design of bearing seal rings.