Reference: Abbott, Richard. Analysis and Design of Composite and Metallic Flight Vehicle Structures 3 Edition, 2019

This section is largely adapted from  (AFFDL-TR-69-42, 1986) chapter 11. The analysis methods in this section are applicable only to isotropic materials in the elastic range. The methods are applicable for static load only and cannot be used for dynamic contact.

The stresses that develop when two elastic bodies are forced together are termed bearing stresses, the stresses are localized on the surface of the material and can be high due to the small areas in contact.

For specialized or ball or roller bearings, the vendor information/product specification should be consulted for allowable load levels.