Method for estimating a bearing load using strain parameters to account for contact angle variation

A bearing assembly comprising:

• a bearing having a first ring equipped with at least one strain sensor probe, a second ring, and a row of rolling elements arranged between the first ring and the second ring, and
• an electronic control unit configured to receive and process a strain signal waveform transmitted from the strain sensor probe to the electronic control unit,
• the electronic control unit being configured to:
• extract shape information of the waveform of the strain signal using a first harmonic component (u) and a second harmonic component (v) of the strain signal;
• and
• calculate a bearing load estimation as a polynomial function of the first and second harmonic components (u, v) of the strain signal.

A method for estimating a bearing load in a bearing comprising a first ring, a second ring and a row of rolling elements arranged between the first ring and the second ring, the method comprising:

• equipping the first ring with at least one strain sensor probe,
• generating a strain signal waveform using the at least one strain sensor probe,
• transmitting the strain signal waveform from the at least one strain sensor probe to an electronic control unit,
• extracting a first harmonic component (u) and a second harmonic component (v) of the strain signal;
• calculating a ratio of the first harmonic component and the second harmonic component;
• and
• calculating a bearing load estimation as a polynomial function of the ratio.