Bearings are mechanical components used to reduce friction and enable smooth motion between two moving parts. They are commonly used in various mechanical systems, ranging from small appliances to heavy machinery. Bearings are machine components that support another rotating machine component (known as a Journal). It allows relative motion between the contact surfaces of the members while supporting the load.

Bearings

Bearings are mechanical components that reduce friction between moving parts in machinery. They facilitate smooth motion, supporting axial and radial loads. Common types include ball bearings, roller bearings, and plain bearings. Bearings are crucial in diverse applications, from vehicles and industrial machinery to everyday household appliances.

A certain amount of power is lost in overcoming frictional resistance as a result of the relative motion between the contact surfaces, and rapid wear will result if the rubbing surfaces are in direct contact. It is possible to add a layer of fluid (referred to as a lubricant) to lessen wear and frictional resistance, and in some cases, to remove the heat produced.

In this article, we will only learn about bearings, types of bearings, applications, and the equations associated. This topic is important for your SSC JE Mechanical and GATE ME exams and this article helps you ace your preparation.

The article also helps in your RRB JE mechanical engineering examination.

Let’s start learning!

What are Bearings?

As we have already learnt that a bearing is a machine member that supports, guides, and restrains moving elements, several types of bearings support the rotational motion of the shaft or Journal in them. These bearings are classified based on their category and their use in various applications.

Let’s look at the categorical classification of these bearings.

Types of Bearings

There are numerous types of bearings. Consider the flow chart given in Fig 1 to get a glimpse of all the bearings in use. This classification tree is an amenity before learning this topic. These classifications are based on real-life applications.

Fig 1: Types of bearings

There are two types of bearings whose concepts will be discussed in each main type i.e. Rolling and Sliding Bearings. Let’s learn more about them.

(1) Radial Bearings: In this, the load acts perpendicular to the direction of motion of the journal, as shown in Fig 2 (a) and (b).

Fig 2: Front (a) and Side (b) views of the Radial Bearing

(2) Thrust Bearings: In this, the load acts along the axis of rotation as shown in Fig 3 below.

Fig 3: Cross-section of Thrust Bearing

Based on the most used type of bearings, let us first study Rolling contact before Sliding contact.