Analysis of the Effect of Structural Errors of RV Reducer on the Fatigue Life of Internal Multiple Bearings

During the actual operation of RV reducers, the load distribution of multiple bearings inside the reducer undergoes changes due to processing and installation errors. And the actual load distribution of the bearings significantly affects their fatigue life. Currently, researches on the fatigue life of bearings primarily concentrates on the bearings themselves, disregarding the mutual influence of multi-bearing forces within the RV reducer system In this study, a mathematical model of the load interaction between each bearing using Hertz contact theory is developed, while considering processing and installation errors. The effects of the bearing load distribution on contact stress were examined under different biased load conditions. Our findings indicate that under biased load conditions, the contact stress of needle roller bearings increases significantly, resulting in a sharp reduction in their lifespan, followed by tapered roller bearings, while the angular contact ball bearings remain largely unchanged. The research outcomes hold guiding implications for failure analysis and optimization design of RV reducers.