This paper presents a modelling study of a ball bearing dynamic behaviour with different
defects types, which is part of an investigation related to the modelling of machinery
rotating components. Our contribution in this work is a proposition of a five-degree of
freedom model describing the nonlinear dynamic behaviour of a ball bearing. The aim is a
parametric formulation of the ball bearing stiffness which allows the introduction of the
defects characteristics. This approach is a result of an intrinsic structural behaviour
making it different from methods which introduce external impulsion to simulate defects.
Hence, a more realistic dynamic ball bearing defect simulation is obtained for better use
in design and maintenance domain. This simulation can be formulated by two methods. The
first, partial contact method, is based on elimination of some ball stiffness. The second
one imposes displacement in the system response. Obtained results give response forms
similar to standards and to different author’s results (theoretical and experimental)
found in the literature. The developed model is simple, compact as compared to existing
ones and we can express our satisfaction about this promising model.