IMPROVING THE DURABILITY OF EXCAVATOR SADDLE BEARING ROLLERS THROUGH THE USE OF WEAR-RESISTANT COMPOSITE MATERIALS

Abstract

The reliability and service life of mining excavators largely depend on the operating conditions of saddle bearing assemblies. Under severe loading conditions, conventional bronze rollers are subjected to intensive wear, deformation, and contact stress concentration, leading to increased maintenance costs and reduced equipment availability. This study investigates the feasibility of replacing traditional bronze rollers with alternative materials, including bronze–graphite composites, Caprolon reinforced with molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), and 40Cr steel coated with tungsten carbide-cobalt (WC-Co). Finite element simulations were performed using SolidWorks Simulation to evaluate contact stresses, deformations, and wear characteristics. The results indicate that the WC-Co coated 40Cr steel roller provides the highest wear resistance and service life among the investigated materials.