Bearings Classification

Bearings are classified in  main two categories:
1) Plain or sliding contact bearings 
2) Rolling or anti-friction bearings

Further classification are given below:
1)Plain or sliding bearings : -

In which the rotating shaft has a sliding contact with the bearing which is held stationary . Due to large contact area friction between mating parts is high requiring greater lubrication.

Further classified in two categories: 
- Metallic sliding bearings
- Non-metallic sliding bearings

Then further classified based on their loading, lubrication and configurations:
Based on loading:
- Axial Loading bearings
- Radial Loading bearings


Based on configuration:
- Solid bushing bearings

- Split bushing bearings

Based on lubrication:
- Hydrodynamic bearings
- Self lubricating bearings
- Hydrostatic bearings 
 
Rolling or anti-friction bearings : -

Due to less contact area rolling friction is much lesser than the sliding friction , hence these bearings are also known as anti friction bearing.

Rolling or anti-friction bearings are classified on two categories:
1) Ball bearings
2) Roller bearings

1) Ball bearings
Ball bearing classified based on loading:
- Radial Ball bearings
- Thrust ball bearings

Based on Radial loading:
- Single row deep groove ball bearings
- Single row angular contact ball bearings
- Self-aligning ball bearings
- Double row angular contact ball bearings
- Duplex angular contact ball bearings
- Four-point contact ball bearings

Based on Thrust loading:
- Single direction thrust ball bearings
- High-speed duplex angular contact ball bearings
- Double direction angular contact thrust ball bearings

2) Roller bearings
Roller bearing classified based on loading:
- Radial roller bearings
- Thrust roller bearings

Based on Radial loading:
- Single row cylindrical roller bearings
- Single row tapered roller bearings
- Double row tapered roller bearings
- Double row cylindrical roller bearings
- Spherical roller bearings
- Needle roller bearings
-  
Based on Thrust loading:
- Cylindrical roller thrust bearings 
- Tapered roller thrust bearings
- Spherical roller thrust bearings
- Needle roller thrust bearings