Abstract: A rotary wing aircraft bearing that provides a constrained relative motion between a first rotary wing aircraft member and a second rotary wing aircraft member. The bearing includes an elastomeric mold bonded laminated bearing stack, the elastomeric mold bonded laminated bearing stack including a plurality of mold bonded alternating layers of nonelastomeric shim member layers and elastomeric shim members layers, the alternating layers having an exterior surface and an interior center distal from the exterior surface.

Abstract: A wear-indicating bearing and method of detecting wear in a bearing are disclosed. The bearing includes a bearing stack having a first end and a second end with a longitudinal axis defined between the first and second ends. The bearing stack includes a plurality of elastomeric layers sandwiched between non-elastomeric shim layers, where each layer is concentric about the longitudinal axis. At least one elastomeric layer is a marker layer configured to indicate wear of the bearing. The marker layer is made up of a first elastomeric composition and a second elastomeric composition, wherein the first and second elastomeric compositions have optically different characteristics. Upon fatigue of the bearing, the first elastomeric composition is detectable through a fracture extending from an exterior surface of the bearing stack.

Abstract: A rotary wing aircraft bearing that provides a constrained relative motion between a first rotary wing aircraft member and a second rotary wing aircraft member. The bearing includes an elastomeric mold bonded laminated bearing stack, the elastomeric mold bonded laminated bearing stack including a plurality of mold bonded alternating layers of nonelastomeric shim member layers and elastomeric shim members layers, the alternating layers having an exterior surface and an interior center distal from the exterior surface.

Abstract: A wear-indicating bearing and method of detecting wear in a bearing are disclosed. The bearing includes a bearing stack having a first end and a second end with a longitudinal axis defined between the first and second ends. The bearing stack includes a plurality of elastomeric layers sandwiched between non-elastomeric shim layers, where each layer is concentric about the longitudinal axis. At least one elastomeric layer is a marker layer configured to indicate wear of the bearing. The marker layer is made up of a first elastomeric composition and a second elastomeric composition, wherein the first and second elastomeric compositions have optically different characteristics. Upon fatigue of the bearing, the first elastomeric composition is detectable through a fracture extending from an exterior surface of the bearing stack.