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Bearing Stresses (Contact Stresses)

This page provides the chapter on bearing stress (also referred to as contact stress) from the "Stress
Analysis Manual," Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory, October 1986.

11.1 Introduction to Bearing Stresses

The stresses developed when two elastic bodies are forced together are termed bearing stresses.
They are localized on the surface of the material and may be very high due to the small areas in
contact. The design information given in this section assumes either static loading or low velocity
loading. The application to ball and roller antifriction bearings is not covered.
A brief discussion of bearing stresses in riveted joints is followed by a presentation of theoretically
derived equations for the bearing stresses between various shapes in contact. An empirical
treatment for the determination of allowable loads is also presented.

It is noted here that the design of ball and roller bearings is a very specialized area; however, their
selections for various applications can be made based on data published by the various
manufacturers.

11.2 Nomenclature for Bearing Stresses

a = 1/2 the major diameter of an ellipse
c = 1/2 the minor diameter of an ellipse
D = diameter
E = modulus of elasticity
Fbr = allowable bearing load
Fcp = proportional limit in compression
Fcy = compressive yield stress
fbr = calculated bearing stress
fbrc = calculated compressive bearing stress
fbrs = calculated shear bearing stress
fbrt = calculated tensile bearing stress
K1, K2, K3 = coefficients in Table 11-1
P = axial load
Pa = allowable axial load

R = minimum radius of curvature

R' = maximum radius of curvature
r = radius
r = cylindrical coordinate

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t = thickness
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t = width of rectangular area
w = load per length (lb/in)
wa = allowable load per length (lb/in)
x, y = rectangular coordinates
δ = deflection
θ = cylindrical coordinate
μ = Poisson's ratio
ϕ = angle shown in diagram for general case of two bodies in contact in Table 11-1

11.2 Bearing Stresses in Riveted Connections

Figure 11-1 shows a riveted connection between two plates.

Excessive bearing stresses result in yielding of the plate, the rivet, or both.

The intensity of the bearing stress between the rivet and the hole is not constant but varies from
zero at the edges to a maximum value directly in back of the rivet. The difficulty caused by
considering a variable stress distribution may be avoided by the common practice of assuming the
bearing stress to be uniformly distributed over the projected area of the rivet hole. The bearing
stress is thus,

P
fbr = (11-1)
Dt

The allowable load is

Pa = Fbr Dt (11-2)

where Fbr is the allowable bearing stress.

11.4 Sample Problem - Bearing Stresses in Riveted Connections

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Given: The riveted plate in Figure 11-2

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Find: The bearing stress between the rivets and the plate.

Solution: The load per rivet is 20,000/4 = 5,000 lb. From Equation (11-1),

P 5, 000
fbr = = = 40, 000 psi
Dt (0.5)(0.25)

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11.5 Elastic Stresses and Deformation of Various Shapes in Contact

Table 11-1 treats the elastic stress and deformations produced by pressure between bodies of
various forms. The first column of this table gives the form of the bodies and the dimensions that
describe them. The second column indicates the shape and size of the surface of contact between

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the two bodies as well as the combined deformation of the bodies, δ . The maximum compressive,
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tensile, and shear bending stresses (fbrc , fbrt and fbrs ) are given in the third column of Table 11-1.
The maximum compressive and tensile bearing stresses occur at the center of the surface of contact
and at the edge of the surface of contact, respectively, and the maximum shear bearing stress occurs
in the interiors of the compressed parts. The equations in Table 11-1 are based on the assumption
that the length of the cylinder and the dimensions of the plate are infinite. For a very short cylinder
or for a plate having a width of less than five or six times that of the contact area or a thickness of
less than five or six times the depth to the point of maximum shear stress, the actual stresses may
vary considerably from those given by the equation in Table 11-1.

Because of the very small area involved in what initially approximates a point or line contact, the
stresses obtained from the equations in Table 11-1 are high even for light loads. However, since the
stress is highly localized and triaxial, the stress intensity may be very high (above the yield point)
without producing apparent damage. Since this is the case and the formulas in Table 11-1 hold only
in the elastic range, the empirical formulas for allowable loads given in Section 11.7 are most useful
for practical design. However, the formulas in Table 11-1 are useful as a guide to design, especially
when empirical formulas are not available for a given case.

Table 11-1: Formulas for Stress and Deformations Due to Pressure Between Elastic Bodies

Form of Shape of Contact Surface and Maximum Bearing Stress

Contacting Bodies Combined Deformation
Sphere on Sphere 
−−−−−−−−−−−
2
−−
D 1 +D 2

P( )
 D1 D2

Max fbrc = 0.918

3
 2 2 2
1−μ 1−μ
1 2
⎷[ + ]
E1 E2
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

2 2
 D1 D2 1 − μ 1 − μ

If E1 = E2 = E and μ1 = μ2 =
1 2
r = 0.721P (
3
)[ + ]
⎷ D1 + D2 E1 E2



−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
2
P (D1 + D2 ) 1 − μ
2
1 − μ
2
2
0.3,

3 1 2
δ = 1.04 ( + )
⎷ D1 D2 E1 E2 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
2

3 2
D1 + D2
Max fbrt = 0.0820√ P E ( )
D1 D2

and
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
2
D1 + D2
3 2
Max fbrs = 0.205√ P E ( )
D1 D2

Sphere in Spherical 
−−−−−−−−−−−
2
−−
D 1 −D 2

Socket
P( )
 D1 D2

Max fbrc = 0.918

3
 2 2 2
1−μ 1−μ
1 2
⎷[ + ]
E1 E2
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

2 2
 D1 D2 1 − μ 1 − μ

If E1 = E2 = E and μ1 = μ2 =
1 2
r = 0.721
3
P ( )[ + ]
⎷ D1 − D2 E1 E2



−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
2
P (D1 − D2 ) 1 − μ
2
1 − μ
2
2
0.3,

3 1 2
δ = 1.04 ( + )
⎷ D1 D2 E1 E2 −−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
2

3 2
D1 − D2
Max fbrt = 0.0820√ P E ( )
D1 D2

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and
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−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
2

2
D1 − D2
3
Max fbrs = 0.205√ P E ( )
D1 D2

Sphere on Flat −−−−−−−−P

−−−−−−−


Plate
Max fbrc = 0.918

3
2 2 2
1−μ 1−μ
1 2
⎷ D2 [ + ]
E1 E2


−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
2 2
If E1 = E2 = E and μ1 = μ2 =
 1 − μ 1 − μ
0.3,
1 2
r = 0.721P D [
3
+ ]
⎷ E1 E2

−−−−−
2
PE
3
Max fbrt = 0.0820√
2
D

and
−−−−−
2
PE
3
Max fbrs = 0.205√
2
D

at r/4 beneath the surface of the

plate

Cylinder on 
−−−−−−−−−−−−
w(D1 +D2 )

Cylinder Max fbrc

= 0.798
2
D1 D2

2
1−μ 1−μ

(Axes Parallel)
1 2
⎷[ + ]
E1 E2

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
 wD D 2 2
1 2 1 − μ 1 − μ
1 2
b = 1.6 [ + ]
⎷ D1 + D2 E1 E2

If E1 = E2 = E and μ1 = μ2 =
0.3,
2
2(1 − μ )w 2 2D1 2D2
δ = ( + ln + ln )
πE 3 b b

Cylinder in 
−−−−−−−−−−−−
w(D1 −D2 )

Cylindrical Groove

D1 D2

Max fbrc = 0.798
2 2
1−μ 1−μ
1 2
⎷[ + ]
E1 E2

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

2 2
 wD D 1 − μ 1 − μ
1 2 1 2
b = 1.6  [ + ]
⎷ D1 − D2 E1 E2

If E1 = E2 = E and μ1 = μ2 =
0.3,

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2
2(1 − μ )w b
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E
(1 − 2 ln
2
)
☰

Cylinder on Flat −−−−−−−−−−−−−−

w
Max fbrc = 0.798
Plate 
⎷D[
1−μ
2
1
+
1−μ
2
2
]
E1 E2

If E1 = E2 = 30×106 and
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
μ1 = μ2 = 0.25,

2 2
 1 − μ 1 − μ
1 2
b = 1.6wD [ + ]
⎷ E1 E2
−
−−
w
fbrs = 0.958√
If E1 = E2 = E and μ1 = μ2 = D

0.3,
at a depth of 0.393b below the
the total compression of the surface of the plate.
cylinder between two plates is
2
1 − μ 1 2D
ΔD = 4w ( )( + ln )
πE 3 b

Cylinder on
1.5P
Cylinder Max fbrc =

(Axes at Right πab

Angles) If E1 = E2 = 30×106, μ1 = μ2 =
0.25, and 1 < D1 /D2 < 8,
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

2 2
 D1 D2 1 − μ
1
1 − μ
2 −−−
a = K1 
3
P ( )[ + ]
⎷ D1 + D2 E1 E2
1175 O 4P
3
Max fbrs = √
0.271 2
D1 D
2
( )
D2
b = K2 c

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
 2
 P (D1 + D2 )
δ = K3 
3
 2
E1 E2 D1 D2
⎷( 2
+ 2
)
1−μ 1−μ
1 2

where K1 , K2 and K3 have values

as follows:
D1 /D2 1 1.5 2 3 4 6 10

K1 0.908 1.045 1.158 1.350 1.505 1.767 2.175

K2 1 0.765 0.632 0.482 0.400 0.308 0.221

K3 2.080 2.060 2.025 1.950 1.875 1.770 1.613

General Case of −−−−

1.5P
Two Bodies in
2
P
3 Max fbrc =
δ = K3 √
Contact 2 πab
K γ

(P = Total Load) where

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−−−
Pγ
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3
√ ☰
K

and
−−−
Pγ
3
b = K2 √
K

At point of contact,
minimum and
K1 , K2 and K3 are given in the following table, where:
maximum radii of 1 1 1
2
1 1
2
1 1 1 1
1/2

θ = arccos γ [( − ) + ( − ) + 2( − )( − ) cos 2ϕ]

curvature are R1 4 R1 R
′
1
R2 R
′
2
R1 R
′
1
R2
′
R
2

and R'1 for Body 1 θ 0° 10° 20° 30° 35° 40° 45° 50° 55° 60° 65° 70° 75° 80° 85° 90°

and R2 and R'2 for K1 ∞ 6.612 3.778 2.731 2.397 2.136 1.926 1.754 1.611 1.486 1.378 1.284 1.202 1.128 1.061 1.00

Body 2. K2 0 0.319 0.408 0.493 0.530 0.567 0.604 0.641 0.678 0.717 0.759 0.802 0.846 0.893 0.944 1.00

K3 -- 0.851 1.220 1.453 1.550 1.637 1.709 1.772 1.828 1.875 1.912 1.944 1.967 1.985 1.996 2.00
4
γ =
1 1 1 1
+ + +
R R ′ ′
1 2 R1 R2

Knife Edge on At any point Q ,

E1 E2
K =
3 E 2 (1 − μ2 ) + E 1 (1 − μ2 )
1 2

Plate
2w cos θ
fbrc =
πr

Rigid Block on At any point Q on surface of

Plate contact,
w
fbrc =
−−
2
−−−−
t 2
π√ − x
4

Rigid Cylindrical At any point on surface of

2

Die on Plate δ =
P (1 − μ )
contact,
DE
P
fbrc =
−−
2
−−−−
D 2
πD√ − r
4

Max fbrc = ∞ at edge

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11.6 Sample Problem - Elastic Stress and Deformation of Cylinder on

a Cylinder
Given: The cylinders shown in Figure 11-3.

Find: The contact surface, total deflection, and maximum compressive stress.

Solution: From Table 11-1, the surface of contact between two cylinders with their axes parallel is a
rectangular strip of width, b , given by
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

2 2
 wD D 1 − μ 1 − μ
1 2 1 2
b = 1.6  [ + ]
⎷ D1 + D2 E1 E2

In this case,
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−
2 2
30(1)(0.5) 1 − 0.3 1 − 0.3
b = 1.6√ [ + ] = 0.00125 in
6 6
1 + 0.5 30 × 10 30 × 10

The combined deflection of the cylinders is given by

2
2(1 − μ )w 2 2D1 2D2
δ = ( + ln + ln )
πE 3 b b

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if E1 = E2 = E and μ1 = μ2 = 0.3 , which is true for the given cylinders. Thus, in this case,
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2
2(1 − 0.3 )(30) 2 2(1) 2(0.5)
−6
δ = ( + ln + ln ) = 9.87 × 10 in
6
π(30 × 10 ) 3 0.00125 0.00125

From the third column of Table 11-1, the maximum compressive bearing stress between two parallel
cylinders is
−−−−−−−−−−−−
 w(D1 +D2 )

D1 D2

Max fbrc = 0.798
2 2
1−μ 1−μ
1 2
⎷[ + ]
E1 E2

In this case,
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

30(1+0.5)

 (1)(0.5)
Max fbrc = 0.798 = 30, 800 psi
 1−0.3
2
1−0.3
2

⎷[ +
6
]
6
30×10 30×10

Thus, the cylinders will not yield and since Max fbrc < Fcy , the equations in Table 11-1 are valid.

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11.7 Empirical Treatment of Allowable Bearing Loads

Many tests have been made to determine the bearing strength of spheres and cylinders. However, it
is difficult to interpret the results due to the lack of any satisfactory criterion for failure. Some
permanent deformation is shown to be produced even for very small loads. This deformation

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increases progressively with increasing load, but there is no sharp break in the load-set curve. Thus,
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it is necessary to select some arbitrary criterion for the amount of plastic yielding that may be
considered to represent failure. The circumstances of use determine the degree of permanent
deflection necessary to make a part unfit for service.

The following sections present empirical formulas for the maximum allowable bearing loads for
various shapes in contact.

11.7.1 Empirical Formulas for Allowable Bearing Loads of a Cylinder on a Flat

Plate
Figure 11-4 shows a cylinder on a flat plate under a loading of w lb. per linear inch.

Table 11-2 gives empirical formulas for the allowable load (wa ) for various diameters of steel
cylinders on flat steel plates. It should be noted that there is little difference between failure under
static conditions and that under slow rolling conditions if slipping does not occur. If slipping occurs,
tests are necessary to obtain reliable information.

Although the allowable load (wa ) is dependent upon length for short cylinders, it is independent of
length if the cylinders are longer than 6 inches. The last equation in Table 11-2 is based upon an
elongation of 0.001 in./in. in the bearing plate.

Table 11-2: Empirical Formulas for a Steel Cylinder on a Flat Steel Plate

Diameter Loading Condition Allowable Load (lb/in)

Fcy − 13000
D < 25 in. static wa = ( ) 600D
20000

Fcy − 13000 −
−
25 < D < 125 in. static wa = ( ) 3000√D
20000

Fcy − 13000
116 < D < 476 in. slow rolling wa = (18000 + 120D) ( )
23000

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11.7.2 Empirical Formula for Allowable Bearing Load of Steel Spheres in

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Contact
Figure 11-5 shows two similar spheres in contact.

The crushing load P is given by

1.75
P = 1960(8D)

The test sphere used to derive this formula was steel of hardness 64 to 66 Rockwell C.

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