Attachment of PDC bearing members, bearing assemblies incorporating same and related methods

A bearing assembly comprising:

• a base member;
• at least one bearing element coupled to the base member by a clamped structure and at least one of welding or brazing;
• and
• a retainer having at least one opening formed therein, wherein:
• the at least one bearing element includes a carrier element attached to a substrate,
• the carrier element being sized and configured to provide an abutment shoulder;
• at least one mechanical fastener couples the retainer with the base member such that the at least one bearing element is captured between the base member and the retainer with the abutment shoulder of the carrier element abutting a surface of the retainer;
• and
• wherein the at least one bearing element includes a superhard table bonded to the substrate and the carrier element attached to the substrate;
• at least a portion of the superhard table extends through the at least one opening of the retainer;
• and
• wherein the base member includes a wall, and the at least one bearing element includes a key that engages the wall to inhibit rotation of the at least one bearing element relative to the base member.