Abstract
Wheel bearing unit has been exclusively applied to car wheel supporting device. The seal for wheel bearing is required to have both high sealing effects and low reaction forces because wheel bearing are operated on adverse environmental conditions such as mud and splash water. High sealing effects are for the protection of bearing ball wear from dust influx. In order to ensure high sealing effects, it is a easiest way to increase contact force which are affected by geometric characteristics, material properties and interferences between seal and inner bearing but induces higher wear phenomena. Interferences in all variables are most important factor to determine the performance of wheel bearing. In this study, optimization of interference amount was performed with finite element analysis with commercial code ABAQUS. For the sake of finite element analysis, tensile tests of rubber material were conducted and governing equation of nonlinear behavior was achieved. Hock-up bearing was manufactured with optimized interference amount. Results of torque and mud spray tests using this bearing unit are performed. Less torque and moisture influx of bearing with optimized interference amount is evidence to validity of this study.
