The dynamic characteristics of a high speed angular-contact ceramic ball bearing are studied and compared with that of the steel ball bearing. According to rolling bearing analysis theory, the bearing dynamic equations are established and are solved based on Hook-Jeeves's optimization theory on the computer. The results show that the bearing dynamic characteristics mainly depend on the rotational speed and ball material property at high speed. The bearing stiffness, initially decreases obviously and then increases with the increase of rotational speed. The ceramic ball bearing gains significant advantages over the steel ball bearing in high speed applications, such as lower contact stress, smaller deformation, less altering amount of contact angle, decreasing extent of variation of axial and radial stiffness and higher performance stability.
