Rolling contact bearing modelling solutions: Critical analysis and comparison

Rolling contact bearings are critical components in mechanical systems, widely used for their efficiency in reducing friction and supporting loads. Accurately modelling these elements is essential for predicting their performance, durability, and failure mechanisms. Despite significant advancements, there remains a need for a unified framework to evaluate and compare the various existing modelling approaches. This paper aims to critically analyze and compare the most significant rolling-contact bearing models, emphasizing their methodologies, characteristics, and trends. It addresses both static and dynamic modelling approaches, focusing on their assumptions, computational cost, validation processes, and the treatment of contact and friction phenomena. The study encompasses a chronological review of more than 50 relevant models, presented through comprehensive summaries and comparative tables. A detailed analysis of those models makes it possible to identify key trends and advancements in this domain. The main findings reveal significant variability in the approaches used and highlight the lack of a standardized methodology for modelling these complex systems. This work provides a valuable resource for researchers and engineers, guiding future developments toward more robust and comprehensive modelling frameworks.