Study on the Contact Stress Distribution and Calculation Method of Cylindrical Roller Bearings Considering Clearance Changes

The distribution of contact stress in roller bearings has a significant impact on operational performance and safety. Firstly, we established a bearing clearance change model that combines interference fit and thermal expansion effects. Then, we studied the clearance changes of key parameters’ influence under different operating conditions. Using Hertz contact theory, we analyze the nonlinear coupling relationship between clearance changes, load distribution, and contact stress. Through MATLAB analytical calculations, load and stress distribution contour maps were obtained under typical operating conditions, which provided theoretical support for bearing optimization design and reliability analysis. The result depicts that an increase in interference fit and temperature difference leads to clearance decrease, triggering a redistribution of contact stress. As clearance decreases, the maximum contact stress exhibits a nonlinear growth trend. To further enhance engineering practicality, this paper uses the MATLAB platform to develop a visualization of digital image processing software. The software enables interactive analysis throughout the entire process of clearance input, stress calculation, and graphical display.