Exploring Types of Bearings Commonly Used in Aircraft Applications

Aircraft bearings play a critical role in sustaining safe and efficient operations, as they have the capacity to support heavy loads while minimizing friction between moving components. To function reliably under the demanding conditions of flight, they are commonly engineered with specific structural designs, specialized materials, and tailored service procedures in mind. In this blog, we will explore the primary categories of bearings used in aircraft, cover notable materials that are selected for their construction, and discuss various maintenance practices that can preserve their long-term performance.

What Are the Main Categories of Aircraft Bearings?

Aircraft bearings are organized into several categories, each of which covers hardware options that are designed to manage particular load conditions and operational demands in aviation systems. For instance, the following examples illustrate common bearing types and their typical applications.

Ball Bearings: Ball bearings can support radial and axial forces, allowing them to provide stable rotation in gyroscopes, instrumentation, and smaller mechanical assemblies that require consistent motion.
Roller Bearings: Featuring cylindrical rolling elements, roller bearings can withstand substantial radial loads, making them essential for gearboxes, turbine shafts, and other large rotating machinery.
Needle Bearings: Distinguished by their long, slender rollers, needle bearings can provide high load capacity within compact spaces and are thus frequently installed in aircraft control linkages.
Tapered Bearings: With angled rollers that manage both radial and axial stresses, tapered bearings are regularly employed in wheel assemblies and landing gear components to sustain heavy forces during taxi, takeoff, and landing phases.
Thrust Bearings: These bearings are specifically positioned to absorb axial loads, enabling reliable operation in propeller shafts, helicopter rotor systems, and other thrust-intensive assemblies that would otherwise experience excessive structural strain.

What Materials Are Commonly Used in Aircraft Bearings?

The materials selected for aircraft bearings can determine their ability to withstand stress, resist corrosion, and perform reliably in demanding environments. Common options include:

Chrome Steel: Chrome can deliver a strong balance of fatigue resistance, durability, and cost-effectiveness, making it a standard option for bearings in general aviation and less corrosive operating environments.
Stainless Steel: By combining strength with superior corrosion resistance, stainless steel enables bearings to remain effective when exposed to moisture, hydraulic fluids, or deicing agents commonly encountered in flight operations.
Ceramics: Lightweight ceramic elements can withstand high rotational speeds and elevated thermal loads, which is why they are frequently used for fasteners in jet engine assemblies and auxiliary power units.
Titanium Alloys: Known for their high strength-to-weight ratio, titanium alloys can reduce overall bearing mass while resisting corrosion, allowing them to serve in advanced aerospace systems that demand efficiency and long-term structural reliability.
Polymer-Based Materials: Certain plain and self-lubricating bearings incorporate polymer elements to minimize friction without external lubrication.

What Maintenance Tasks Are Common for Aircraft Bearings?

To ensure reliability and longevity, aircraft bearings are subject to regular inspection and service tasks, such as:

Lubrication: Bearings depend on properly selected oils or greases to limit friction and wear, so maintenance teams should establish replenishment schedules based on duty cycles, temperature ranges, and viscosity requirements for specific assemblies.
Cleaning: The controlled removal of dust, oxidation, and residual fluids is used to preserve smooth rolling action, with technicians being tasked with ensuring that cleaning solvents are compatible with bearing materials and protective coatings.
Inspection: Regular examinations should be carried out to detect early signs of corrosion, surface pitting, or excess clearance that may undermine fit and stability, allowing corrective action before performance is compromised.
Replacement Intervals: Manufacturers often specify fatigue-life thresholds and regulatory service limits that guide replacement, reducing the likelihood of sudden failures that could jeopardize flight safety or lead to costly downtime.
Storage and Handling: Spare bearings should be preserved in sealed packaging with moisture control to prevent contamination or corrosion, ensuring that parts remain ready for installation without additional preparation.

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