The dynamic representation of mechanical contacts in computational models of rolling element bearings is commonly based on the classic Hertz's model for the dry contact, even though the presence of a lubricant medium being essential to avoid premature wear of such components. Thus, the dynamic effects of the fluid film on the contacting interfaces are overlooked when such bearings are under oil lubrication. With the intent of introducing such effects in a radial deep groove ball bearing model, this work proposes a method based on the dynamic approximation of each lubricated contact by dynamic links of non-linear stiffness and viscous damping. Such dynamic links are characterized from the response of a complete dynamic simulation of the elastohydrodynamic (EHD) elliptic contact, through an implementation of a numerical integrator, which uses the multi-level finite difference method for the solution of the hydrodynamic portion of the problem. Afterwards, the approximation of each contact by dynamic links is applied to a complete rolling element bearing model, with two degrees of freedom, with the intent of analyzing transverse vibrations on the bearings applied to rotating machinery computational models. The comparison between the results attained through the proposed model and the values simulated using the complete finite difference model showed an adequate representation of the stationary and dynamic behaviors of the contact. When evaluating the linearized bearing model, the presence of fluid stiffening is observed, which was previously only observed through experimental investigations. Lastly, the time integration of a finite element model of a rotor supported by lubricated bearings portrayed the frequency content of an experimental set-up of the rotor adequately. It is concluded that the proposed nonlinear model for the deep grove ball bearing, under the influence of the EHD lubrication, is promising to describe the behavior of such components when on application.
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