European SMEs in the industrial sector of the fabrication of bearings are requested by their potential client companies to demonstrate their technological level and capabilities. In particular, they must show that they have advanced design tools to select the most adequate materials, optimize the geometry, demonstrate that their products fulfill the specifications and requirements defined by the client and generate new designs that are able to stand the ever growing requirements. They are also requested to be able to evaluate and predict the bearing performance far beyond the nominal operation conditions.

Most European SMEs do not have sufficient R&D power to develop these technological tools and the associated methodologies and therefore cannot compete to enter the market of OEMs, currently dominated by large multinational companies. The aim of this project is to help European SMEs in the bearings sector gain competitiveness in all markets, especially among the Original Equipment Manufacturers.

The objective of this project is to provide SMEs in the bearings sector with advanced virtual prototyping design tools and methodologies and apply these tools for the design of a new generation of high performance bearings. The ultimate objective is to increase the market share of the European SMEs in the bearings sector in those applications and clients with greater technological exigency and thus with more added value.

The incorporation of tools and methodologies for design of bearings, based on virtual prototyping techniques will allow European SMEs to: understand more deeply and characterize the behaviour of bearings, provide their clients with the technical information that they demand, improve the geometrical design, select better materials, reduce lubricant, optimise friction, reduce energy consumption.

The project will lead to the generation of a new generation of bearings, characterized by a high performance, reducing friction between the different elements, improving the efficiency, and increasing their durability.
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Spanish research centre, its aim in the project will be the development of virtual prototyping tools for the prediction of the mechanical performance of bearings, in relation with load distribution, contact pressures, stiffness, friction forces - lubrication, and mechanical fatigue/durability due to rolling.

Spanish SME manufacturer of tapered roller bearings.