Calculate equivalent radial bearing load, L10 life, or required dynamic rating from radial and axial forces, catalog X/Y factors, service factor, speed, and bearing type.

Combine catalog-weighted radial and axial loads.

Use effective X and Y from the exact bearing catalog and applicable load branch, including required orientation or arrangement factors. This tool does not select catalog factors or verify bearing suitability.

Application factor and output unit

1 means no load adjustment. Use justified application factors only.

Related Calculators

Radial Load Formula

The following equation projects a force onto a chosen radial direction. The bearing calculator above instead combines radial and axial load inputs using the applicable manufacturer factors.

R = F × cos(θ)
  • Where R is the radial load (N)
  • F is the applied force (N)
  • θ is the angle between the applied force and the chosen radial direction (°)

Multiply the applied force by the cosine of that angle to obtain its signed component along the chosen radial direction. For the bearing tool, enter nonnegative radial and axial load magnitudes and effective catalog X and Y factors, including any required orientation or arrangement factors. Select the correct catalog branch and threshold first; the tool does not infer them or impose a universal radial-load floor. Equivalent dynamic load is P = multiplier × (XFr + YFa). Basic L10 life is (C/P)^p million revolutions, with p = 3 for ball bearings or 10/3 for roller bearings; operating hours equal this value × 1,000,000/(60 × RPM). Required rating mode reverses that relation. Use a one-million-revolution basic dynamic rating C and convert differently based catalog ratings first. Basic L10 describes 90% population reliability under its assumptions, not guaranteed individual service life. Minimum load, static capacity, lubrication, contamination and other operating limits require separate checks.

What is a Radial Load?

Definition:

Radial load refers to the component of a force acting perpendicular to an object’s axis, often influencing the performance of bearings and rotating machinery.

How to Calculate Radial Load?

Example Problem:

The following example outlines the steps and information needed to calculate the Radial Load.

First, determine the applied force. In this example, assume an applied force of 100 N.

Next, determine the angle at which the force is applied. Suppose the angle is 60°.

Finally, calculate the radial load using the formula above:

R = F ⋅ cos(θ)

R = 100 * cos(60°)

R = 100 * 0.5

R = 50 N

FAQ

What factors can affect the radial load calculation?

The accuracy of the applied force measurement, the precision in the angle measurement, and the method of force decomposition can all affect the radial load calculation.

What happens if the angle is 90°?

At 90°, the projection onto the chosen radial direction is zero. This alone does not establish whether the remaining force is axial or tangential; that depends on the geometry. A transverse tangential force can still impose a radial bearing load.

Can I use this calculator to compute any missing variable?

Select equivalent dynamic radial load, basic L10 life, or required dynamic rating. Enter the loads and applicable catalog factors explicitly. The force-and-angle projection example is separate from these three bearing modes; the tool does not solve missing projection variables by leaving a field blank.